The nights we would've had (if it wasn't for the flames)

by smutny_technik

Summary:

What if the life that Louis and Owen dreamed of together didn't burn at the stake?

Notes:

I had to write this eventually. Even though Bloodletting is beginning to tighten its grip on me, Lewis and Owen are my babies TwT

This will mostly be a compilation of random days from the lives of these two as they live together, especially featuring Owen healing, both mentally and physically.
Updated very randomly, sometimes I may upload daily, sometimes I may leave it for weeks. Still, I hope you hang around and enjoy it :3 And if you have ideas, let me know! I might make them happen ^^

Chapter 1: Changing like the moon

Oakhurst is a small, lonely town, nestled somewhere between soaring mountains and endless forests. Its population of just under two thousand eight hundred people makes up a community of simple people, mostly farmers, shepherds and merchants. Their lives are undisturbed by any dangers and horrors that might lurk in the shadows, and yet, they love telling each other stories of what lies below. They wholeheartedly believe in the existence of monsters, spirits and revenants, and that such being caused the area to be wiped out times before. But since the town has been growing in the last two hundred years without any turmoil, those worries usually only lay in the back of people's minds, never getting a chance to resurface.

The woods surrounding Oakhurst are vastly unexplored, even despite how long the town has stood in place. There is no one person who knows even half of all the nooks and crannies one could find while exploring this place. Even if someone is aware of the existence of some mysterious spot, most of them are too afraid to actually explore them, rendering these old ruins safe from prying eyes.

Which makes them perfect for a little midnight ritual.

One of these sacred places was visited that night by two men. It was a tall, slightly dilapidated tower, overlooking the land from a tall hill. Over the ages, parts of the walls and a serious chunk of the roof eroded. If one was to find themselves on the top floor, they could see the entirety of the black, night sky, and every single star shining over their heads. The two men chose a perfect man for a night of stargazing, as they laid on the floor, joined by a hand, staring high overhead.

"See this one? That one that looks like a snake? That's the Draco constellation..." The mayor, Louis, spoke up. His voice rang soft and comforting, as he stroked his companion's knuckles with his warm fingers. His white hair, which he usually kept tied up, was now loose upon the floor like a silver lake. "And right in that nook of its body is Ursa Minor. It's pretty easy to spot, so it's a good landmark..."

"All of them look the same to me," The lumberjack, Owen, whispered, before beginning to cough. His lungs burned on such a cold night, and the long trek through the forest rendered him exhausted. And it's not that he was unused to such activity, not at all. His small, wounded hand, covered in thick bandages, gently squeezed Louis' palm. "But... Yeah, they are pretty..."

"I wish I had a telescope..." Louis sighed, before tilting his head back a bit. "Are you okay, dear...?"

"Yes, yes, I'm fine... Just..." Owen winced. "The cold shivers, I hate them..."

"Aren't you too cold? Do you want my jacket?" His companion offered. The question made Owen more flustered than he would care to admit.

"No, no, of course not, you can keep it... I don't want you to be cold..."

"Oh, sweetie..." Louis shifted over, his head now over Owen's, obscuring his view. A bright smile lit up his features. "The nights around these parts are cold, but... A real creature of the night never feels cold."

The lumberjack gulped when his friend's red eyes shined down upon him. He was still getting through his system that his only friend, the man who aided and supported him from the first moment they met, was... Not exactly human. A creature of the night, a vampire... One of those monsters he had only ever heard from the stories passerby would share when encountering him. That is, until they noticed the signs of his illness, and rushed away in horror. He closed his eyes when Louis pulled his fingers over the bandages on his neck.

"You have goosebumps... Do you have a fever, dear...?"

"No, I... I don't think so...? But maybe it's brewing..." Owen chuckled nervously, then looked up at Louis again. "Are you sure you want to touch me there...?"

"Dearest, you know your sickness cannot affect me, right...? This is why I gave you my proposition..."

"Yes. Yes, I know." Owen confirmed, averting Louis ' gaze. The vampire squinted. He misinterpreted his sentiment, didn't he...?

"Or is it something else that bothers you...?"

There was no response at first. Louis sat up on the floor, pulling his claws through Owen's hair. Even despite his illness, his hair was so nice, silky and curly... The vampire already grew to love playing with them. Especially whenever he noticed the lumberjack slowly lowering his defences, even gracing him with one of his beautiful, delicate smiles. He smiled so rarely... And yet, Louis would burn the world down for one of these smiles.

"Once you're turned, you will be able to take these off..." The mayor whispered, his finger moving to gently stroke the inside of Owen's palm. His fingers tightened involuntarily. "I can't wait to see you in your full beauty, dear..."

"Yeah... Beauty..." The lumberjack muttered.

Louis raised his eyebrows.

"What's the matter, dearest...?"

"I..." Owen looked down at his hand. His bandages were freshly washed and replaced, but some blood still seeped through them. Even with them on, he could still feel and see the damage the sickness has done to his body. The rough and uneven nature of his skin that could be felt under the fabric. How his fingers were disfigured and not exactly straight. Not to mention the joint pain that sometimes hit him, especially after a long day of chopping wood. Would Louis ' gift be able to heal that as well...? "I'll be honest, I look quite... Disgusting under these... No wonder the people of Oakhurst recoil when they see me..."

"They are fools, Owen," Louis whispered. The lumberjack couldn't help but snicker.

"Wow, such a nice mayor you are..."

"I'm entitled to my own opinion, sweetheart." The vampire smirked, pressing his fingers against Owen's palm. "How about we do a little... Trust exercise...?"

"Huh...? Louis, you know I trust you with my life..." Owen chuckled, taken aback by the strange proposition. "What else would you need from me...?"

"Relax, sweetie... I know you trust me. And I would put my life in your hands as well, Owen." Louis whispered, before repeating the little press into Owen's palm. "Can I prove that to you...?"

"You don't have to prove anything to me, but... Sure...?"

"Great..."

Slowly and with great reverence, Louis pulled his fingers over Owen's skinny, narrow arm. Once he found the tip of his bandage, he pulled it out, before beginning to unwrap it. The lumberjack shivered.

"Wait, what are you doing?-"

"It's alright, sweetie..." The mayor smiled playfully. "Let me just take a little peek, will you...?"

Without waiting for an answer, he returned to unwrapping the bandage. His eyes easily pierced through the thick darkness around them, and he could finally bear witness to Owen's body under all the wraps. Somehow, his thin frame appeared even smaller when stripped off bandages. His arm was, indeed, in late stages of his debilitating, unknown illness. His skin calloused, marbled and discolored, taking on a tint no human's body should be. Large, open blemishes scarred his body, especially close to joints and bones. His fingers were thin as sticks, knuckles poking out from underneath the scars and bruises. But, at the same time... That was the most perfect, most beautiful body part Louis had ever witnessed in his centuries long life. And he has witnessed a lot of those.

"Oh, sweetie..."

"Is it that bad...?" Owen chuckled nervously, before another cough hit him. Only once it went silent, he felt something unfamiliar on his skin. A soft, warm kiss, pressed straight in the middle of his palm.

"You're beautiful..." The vampire whispered, pulling the hand closer and guiding it to his cheek. He rubbed against it like a cat, causing the lumberjack to giggle.

"You cannot be serious right now..."

"Oh, but I am... Have you ever seen me joking, dearest?" The vampire smirked. His fingers gently traced the edges of Owen's scars, sending pleasurable thrills through his body. Owen could only hope that his companion wouldn't see just how red his face has become. Although, truth be told, with how well he could see in the darkness, the chances were low. He helped the lumberjack sit up, before repeating the kiss. "I'm being honest... You're like... A delicate, fragile flower..."

"I'm not delicate," The man scoffed, but with no real venom in his words. "Don't forget, I'm a lumberjack. I can wield an axe pretty well, don'tcha think?"

"Oh, I know, I know... I've seen you at work more often than you might imagine..."

"Yeah, I'm not- Wait, you have?" He chuckled at the confession. "I thought you were always so busy, you never had a chance to even leave your house?"

"I am a very busy man indeed, sweetie... But for you... For you, I'll always find time." The mayor smirked, before moving his kisses a bit lower, towards Owen's wrist. Then, his lips traveled further down, across the man's arm. At the same time, he traced Owen's scars with his fingers, giving them all the respect and love he possibly could. "Although, for a lumberjack, you really are scrawny... How can you even lift your axe...?"

"I have my ways," Owen whispered, although a bit of sadness entered his voice. "This job doesn't pay as well as you might expect... Usually I eat once a day, sometimes once every few days..."

"You poor thing..." Louis whispered, the light in his eyes dimming a little bit. Then, it flashed anew with even more affection and care. "I promise, once you're done turning, and you're in my care... I will never let you starve again."

"If I can get used to drinking blood, then sure..." Owen chuckled.

Louis ' offer from a few days earlier, when he told him of a way to cure his illness... He didn't even hesitate before agreeing. What downside could there possibly be? He was already shunned by society. His sickness, apparently incurable, was seen as something disgusting and dangerous. Even if he was to somehow get his health back, he would probably still be looked down upon due to all the scars and damage... But in return, he'd gain immense power, and a much prolonged life.

Some doctors he had seen already, all of which failed to help him, were surprised he even made it that far already. But he was only twenty five... He wanted to think he still had his whole life ahead of him. Well, now, he did. All thanks to Louis .

The vampire smirked, before turning back to kissing his friend all over his arm. One of his hands slid under the lumberjack's shirt, examining the damage on his skin around these parts. His unbeating heart sunk at the realization of just how sickly and withered Owen really was. He could easily count his ribs through his skin, not to mention the gaping wounds... He pulled back for a second when the gentle smile on the lumberjack's face was disturbed by a sudden wave of pain.

"Does it still hurt, sweetheart...?"

"Still...? It always hurts, Louis..." Owen whispered. "I wake up in pain, the last thing I feel before falling asleep is pain... This is just my life. Pain."

"How long have you been fighting this disease...?" He asked quietly. At the same time, he carefully pulled up his friend's shirt, to take a look at the blemishes on his stomach. Scabs covered his sides, places where he often saw Owen scratching himself. 

"Since I can remember... At first, it was just itching... Then, rashes and changes in color... Then, wounds and numbness... It sucks when you need to use your arms to do your work, and you can wake up not even feeling them." Owen admitted with a bitter, sad smile. "I got used to that."

"No one should have to get used to that..."

"Well, I did."

Louis put his hand on Owen's cheek, stroking it carefully. The lumberjack immediately pressed his sunken cheek against the mayor's warm palm. His big, brown eyes were so full of trust and love... The lumberjack could never share these feelings with anyone in his life. For the longest time, he even believed that he would never be able to actually feel love and trust. And then, one day, he met Louis... Since then, he felt as if his heart had grown tenfold, and it wanted to jump out of his ribcage every time he visited the mayor. The day he learned the truth about the mayor's nature, it grew even more, in fact.

Then, carefully, the vampire leaned down and put a soft kiss at the edge of Owen's ribs. His breathing hitched as blood rushed to his face. No one has ever even touched him around these parts, let alone kiss him...

"You like this, sweetheart...? Or do you want me to stop?"

"Oh, uh, I mean, it's... It's whatever. But... You can continue," he added quickly, more timidly. Of course, he wanted this to continue... But he could at least pretend he wasn't smitten this easily.

"Very well..." Louis smirked, before pressing the kiss again. He pulled one of his claws over Owen's skin, just over his belly button. The vampire enjoyed just how surprised the sensation made him. He could already think of so many things they would do together once his transformation was complete... "You're so pretty... You know that, right...?"

"Am I...?"

"You have... The most beautiful, softest eyes I've ever seen..." The mayor giggled, moving his kissed up and down around the first spot. "And your smile... Oh, your smile, it's like the brightest ray of sunshine..."

"I thought vampires hate the sun...?"

Louis' smile faded. Of course, that amused him, but he liked feigning a bit of annoyance with his friend.

"This is what I get for trying to be poetic..."

"I'm sorry!" Owen gasped, before noticing the smile reappearing on his face. "Wait. You're pulling my leg."

"I am... My cute, sweetest boy..." Louis whispered. He put the tips of his fingers on the edge of a particularly nasty scar, covering one side of Owen's stomach, then began rubbing little circles around the edges. He could feel the tiniest traces of warmth in his body, probably due to the oncoming fever. Other than that, his skin was almost painfully cold. And with how narrow and skinny his frame was, he was probably freezing most of the time... Louis had to fix that, the sooner, the better. "You like it...?"

"Yeah, sure..." Owen gasped quietly, holding back just how much he enjoyed it. He did like it. Immensely. "You don't look... Put off by me..."

"I would never... You're the most beautiful thing in the world..."

The mayor slid his head under his shirt, peppering Owen's chest with kisses. He could feel his heart, just how hard it was beating in his small chest... He helped the lumberjack lay down on his back, to enjoy the full extent of this care. For several minutes, the only sound that disturbed the perfect silence was Owen's heavy breathing. 

To say he was unused to this would be an understatement. Of course, his illness prevented him from ever pursuing any sort of relationship - friendly, romantic, physical... And the disgust that he awoke in the people of Oakhurst made him feel like a disgusting monster that would never deserve any of that. He would never deserve happiness. But now... He was with someone. And he was happy. Even if that person was not human... No, it didn't matter. In his whole life, no human has ever treated him ever half as good as this one monster did. Maybe the roles should be reversed...?

"Pretty boy..." Louis smirked, his kisses travelling all the way up to Owen's collarbone. "Are you ready...?"

The lumberjack's heart soared at the question.

"Now...? Don't you want to do this back at home...?"

"I don't want to risk it, sweetheart. I worry people might think something's wrong... And fear drives people to the worst of places."

"So... You're just gonna leave me here...?"

"What? No, no, of course not..." Louis snickered. He opened his fangs, the tips grazing against Owen's skin. His breathing hitched. "I'll stay with you. I won't leave you for even a moment, I promise. And once you're awake again... We'll go back home."

A wave of warmness crossed Owen's body. Home... Louis meant his house, right? That meant it would be his home as well from now on, right...? That sounded so incredibly exciting... Finally, he would have a place to call home, and someone actually wanting him there. He could leave behind his small, dilapidated hut on the outskirts of Oakhurst... And the mill would probably not get finished anytime soon. But that was a price he was willing to pay.

"That... That sounds good. I'm ready."

"Good..."

Louis took a comfortable position, putting Owen's head on his lap. His bright, red eyes were full to the brim with love and care, to the point where it overwhelmed Owen a little bit. He was unused to this... Well, now he had an eternity to learn to love it. The lumberjack took a deep breath, then closed his eyes.

And then, it happened.

A small, piercing pain through his neck. It was a bit similar to the needles some doctors used on him.

Quiet, slurping sound right next to his ear.

His fingers started tingling, his head began to spin. 

But at the same time, Louis kept reassuringly rubbing his side.

He was fine... He would be fine.

"Louis ...?"

"It's okay, Owen. Go to sleep. I'm right here."

The lumberjack could not fight the strange feeling for much longer. Slowly, very slowly, his body began going numb, and hot at the same time. He wanted to see this through... But he couldn't. Instead, he let out his breath, and succumbed to sleep.

---

Three days passed faster than the blink of an eye.

The whole time, Owen stayed unmoving, deep in slumber, while his head was firmly placed on Louis ' lap. His breathing eventually died down, his heart stopped - and yet, he remained warm, with only his eyelids and fingers twitching every now and then. The mayor of Oakhurst has not moved either, his eyes slowly shifting between the horizon and the face of his sleeping beloved. Even the sun and hunger were not enough to make him leave his post. He stayed right there, stroking Owen's hair, squeezing his hands, making sure he would be alright. He stayed right there.

And then, Owen woke up.

His big, brown eyes were a bit teary when they first opened up. The world around was way too bright, even though the sun was setting. His body felt numb and strange, his jaw hurt, his stomach churned with unfathomable hunger, but... He made it. He was no longer alive, but ironically, he had never felt more alive.

"Louis...?"

"Good evening, fledgling..." The vampire smiled. "How are you feeling?"

"Hungry..."

The mayor snickered at the answer.

"Should've expected that... Come on, sweetie. Let's go home. I have plenty of food for us there..."

Carefully, he helped Owen up. The newly turned vampire flinched, pulling his shawl tightly over himself. His legs were shaking and his head was still spinning, and yet... Feeling Louis' hand holding his own made it all better. He was finally coming home... Owen put on a small, soft smile, as he looked up at the vampire. The pride and love in his eyes... The fledgling corrected himself in his head.

No. He already was home.

Chapter 2: Cleanse your weary heart

Summary:

Louis gives Owen a bath, and a chance to wash off his stress and pain.

Notes:

No spoilers, but after today's episode, I needed this xd

Also, I'm glad you're all enjoying this fic! Just be warned, it will get very self indulgent because I'm basically taking these two and treating them as my barbie dolls lol (especially Owen I love this man so much)

Being a vampire turned out to have many perks Owen did not even expect. Since he could go a lot longer without sleeping or eating, he could occupy his head with things that he found a lot more pleasurable. His favorite thing quickly turned out to be spending any amount of time with Louis, especially as close to him as he could. Talking to the mayor, holding his hands, getting tightly hugged by him, having his hair stroked and petted... At first, Owen found it a little bit overwhelming. As someone who never had a chance to get used to physical contact, it took a little bit getting used to. But once it clicked in his head, he wanted to stay glued to Louis as often as he could. He took naps on his chest or lap, hugged him from behind and held his hand, all the while fighting this strange thought that he was being overbearing. But Louis would tell him if he was, right...? They were friends, they would tell one another such things. And Louis didn't seem to mind... So he didn't, right...?

That evening, the two of them laid on the sofa in perfect silence, just soaking each other's presence. Owen laid on top of his friend, keeping his head on Louis' chest and listening to him breathing. At the same time, the mayor kept his nose in Owen's hair and rubbed his shoulders and back. His hands were incredibly warm and gentle, giving just the right amounts of pressure on the lumberjack's sore body. It was still quite itchy as his old wounds healed, but Louis seemed to know exactly what to do to soothe the pain. At some point, Owen couldn't hold back a giggle when he heard the mayor sniffle.

"You, my good sir..." He murmured, pulling his hand through Owen's hair and guiding his chin up, to look at him "You're a little stinky."

"Stinky?" The fledgling chuckled. "I'm not... I washed myself the night before you turned me!"

"Sweetheart, that was over a month ago."

"Was it?" Owen's slightly pointy ears perked down, his face covering in a bright blush. "Huh... I guess I lost track of time... It feels like it was... I dunno, two, three days ago..."

"Happens, once time no longer affects your body." Louis smirked, before pressing a little kiss on Owen's forehead. "But the point stands... You need a bath. Now."

"Now?" The lumberjack whined, clearly unconvinced. "But it's so late... The water in the river is probably freezing, and the wolves will come out, and-"

"Wait. The river...?"

"Yeah... Where else am I supposed to wash myself?"

"...the bathroom...?"

"Oh!" The blush on Owen's face only deepened. His whole life, he never had an actual bathroom in his house, and got used to doing all these things outside... To the point where the idea of Louis having a bathroom never even popped into his head. But, true, he was the mayor of Oakhurst. If someone had an actual bathroom in his house, that was him. And Louis' amused laughter at his reaction did not help his case. "Hey, I never had an actual bathroom! Never got to live in a fancy rich place like yours..."

"Well, now you do." The mayor answered. And then, a devilish smile appeared on his face. "Do you want me to wash you...?"

"Huh? I- I mean..." Owen turned his eyes away. He couldn't let Louis know just how much he liked that idea... His blush already betrayed it, probably. "If you- If you have nothing better to do, I guess you can... Uh... Help me..."

"Luckily for you, I don't." Louis smirked, before pressing one more kiss, this time to his cheek. He then crawled out from under Owen. "Stay right here, I'll prepare everything."

"It's fine... No need to hurry..."

As Louis disappeared in the bathroom (so it was a bathroom. Owen never really went there, nor did he have a need to do so. Louis sometimes went there, but the lumberjack never felt like asking why. That made him even more embarrassed, looking back), the lumberjack looked down at his hands. One of them was stripped of bandages - Louis took them off just before turning Owen. Since then, he felt too insecure about the rest of his body to take rest off. At least on his part, he had a clear view of what the gift of vampirism was doing to him. The marbled, calloused nature of his skin was likely here to stay, but it lessened considerably in the last month. His gaping, open wounds mostly healed over - the scars were far from pretty, but they were also nowhere as disgusting as they once were. He would probably have to take them out before getting washed, wouldn't he? He dreaded the idea of taking them out. Louis often talked about just how handsome and cute he found Owen, but if he saw all of him... Even someone as understanding as him would be appalled. Would he regret his decision of turning Owen...? No, no, of course he wouldn't. It's Louis. The sweetest, kindest, most understanding person Owen had ever met. He had to understand. Because if he didn't... 

Well, if he didn't, then there was truly no hope for Owen left.

After a few minutes, the elder vampire opened the door to the bathroom and invited his friend in with a slightly exaggerated gesture. Owen chuckled at his theatrics, before approaching the door. He began taking off his shawl on the way there. His clothes could probably use washing as well... Maybe he could do that in the morning. Now, he had to mentally prepare himself for the idea of soaking his body in cold water, rubbing his wounds, probably having them open again... A full body shiver crossed him at the idea. He was far from the people who found washing themselves comforting. For him, it was like a fight against his own body.

"You sure you want to stay?" Owen suddenly asked, just as he was about to unbuckle his belt. "What you see is gonna be... Far from pretty."

"I'm certain, dearest..." Louis whispered, approaching his friend and placing a hand on his side. A small smirk appeared on his face, when he felt the slightest bits of softness under the wounded skin. "And even if it's bad... I have an eternity to get used to it, and grow to love it."

The lumberjack chuckled nervously, before finally undressing himself. He tossed his clothes on the ground, before approaching the bathtub. It was big, he could easily fit in there with his legs stretched out... Slowly and carefully, he put one leg in, bracing himself for the cold water.

And then, he suddenly whimpered as overwhelming warmth coursed through his body.

The water was hot - even a bit hotter than he would've liked. But it was... Great. Immediately, he could feel his muscles relaxing, especially as he submerged himself in the bathtub. The fledgling could barely hold back a little whimper of pleasure. The warmth immediately enveloped him, like a fluffy blanket that clung close to his skin. He couldn't recall the last time he felt this good... His illness made his body naturally quite cold, so even in the summer, he covered himself thoroughly (not just to hide his wounds and bandages). But this warmth reached all of his muscles, crossed his spine, and left him feeling relaxed for the first time in what felt like centuries.

"Enjoying yourself?" Louis whispered, taking a washing cloth and pouring some sort of fragrant liquid on top of it. The lumberjack nodded, before putting his head in the water to soak his hair. Immediately, the curls straightened from the moisture, making them appear even longer than they actually were. "Good, good... Get used to it. We can do it every night, if you just want to."

"Don't tempt me... It would actually be incredible..." Owen whispered. He barely held back a moan of pleasure when the soft cloth landed on his shoulderblades. The elder vampire began gently rubbing them, making sure to avoid any wounds that were still healing. "But you don't do it every night, do you?"

"Who cares how often I do that? I want to make you feel safe and comfortable... And if that means giving daily baths to my favorite kitten, then sure." 

"Kitten?" Owen giggled. "Why...?"

"You'll see, don't worry."

The lumberjack leaned back, stretching out his legs and putting his head on the edge of the bathtub. He has never experienced anything even close to this... And he was just learning how much he missed it. The warmth of the still water around him proved a sharp contrast to the cold, always flowing water of the nearby river. He had to be pretty quick every time he ventured there, so that no wild animals or people would spot him. Fighting against the freezing temperature and the strong current rendered him exhausted by the end. But this... He didn't have to do anything. He could fall asleep right then and there, knowing that Louis would be there to take care of him if necessary. A pleasurable, warm rumble spread throughout his narrow, wounded chest, a feeling that he had never felt in his life before. If vampires are monsters, why did he feel as if he was in heaven...?

"Oh, there we go..."

"What?" Owen chuckled, opening his eyes once again. Only then, something new reached him. A low, rumbling sound that filled the bathroom. It took him a while to remember what it sounded like - sometimes the stray cats of Oakhurst, which he loved to pet, made it when he scratched them behind ears. "Wait... Are you purring?"

"You are purring, darling," Louis snickered. "Bet no one told you about this part of vampirism, huh?"

"Oh god..." Another wave of blush hit Owen's face. The mayor immediately began laughing in response.

"Hey, it's alright! At least I know you're enjoying yourself..."

"I am..." Owen whimpered. Maybe he could find a way to stop this embarrassing sound... But no, not now. If that was a manifestation of just the amount of pleasure and comfort he was feeling... Then so be it. "Wow... Where was this my whole life...?"

The mayor smiled, gently taking his friend's hand and beginning to scrub it gently. His arm was so narrow, his bones actually poked out from underneath his skin... It tug at Louis' unbeating heart. He didn't deserve to be this weak, this mistreated... He needed to fix it, the sooner, the better. He could already tell that Owen was doing better; he slept plenty, he ate anything Louis gave him (it didn't take him long to defeat the queasiness of eating blood and raw meat) and each day, his smile was just a little bit common and brighter. Louis' job was far from over, if he could ever say it was. But now, they had all the time in the world. They could take everything one night at a time.

"Your wounds are healing nicely..." He whispered, pressing a soft kiss inside Owen's wet palm. "Do they still hurt?"

"A little... But it's not a throbbing, burning pain, it's more... Itchy."

"Good! That means they're almost done healing..." The mayor whispered. "You've been doing so, so well..."

"Have I...?" Owen chuckled nervously.

"You have! You're so gorgeous, dearest..." Louis smiled, stroking his cheek gently. Owen immediately pressed it against his friend's palm. His big, brown eyes were so full of love, trust and admiration, it actually made his chest hurt a little. "You look so much more energized... And, not to mention..." He smirked, before putting his hand underwater to squish the fledgling's side. "You're getting a little rounder around the edges..."

"Well, you're not exactly letting me outside to do my job..." Owen chuckled, a bit embarrassed by the observation. "You just keep bringing me snacks..."

"Good." Louis' eyes lit up a bright, sassy red. He closed in a little "And I'm not done... I want you to be as comfortable and safe as possible, you know...?"

"I... I guess..." The lumberjack whispered, before closing his eyes with a pleasurable hum. He could tell that staying with Louis was beginning to change him. His usual restlessness was replaced with comfort, maybe even a bit of compliance. He did feel a little bad about it, but his friend clearly encouraged it... Besides, he was just recovering, and regaining his strength. One day, when he would heal fully, he could go back to his usual work. But not yet. Right now, he needed just a bit more nourishment, rest and care. "You don't mind it, do you...?"

"Mind what, dear...?"

"You know, me, just... Lounging around, taking your food, and..." His voice trailed off when he felt Louis' soft hands land on his cheeks. Immediately, his eyes were glued to that of his sire.

"You could do that for a hundred years more, and I would never complain," The mayor admitted with a warm, loving smile. He then closed in a little bit, before pulling his fledgling into a soft, comforting kiss.

Owen closed his eyes, soaking in the pleasure. Well, that was a first for him... Louis was always very touchy and loved showering him with kisses and physical affection. But he never went this far... Not that Owen was complaining. He was only beginning to wonder whether the mayor really did only see him as a friend.

Because, as far as Owen knew, he saw him as so much more than that.

After their lips parted, Louis continued to wash his fledgling with the same amount of care and reverence, if not more. He thoroughly washed Owen's hair, scrubbing on anything that threatened to damage his beautiful curls. He noticed the lumberjack slowly dozing off, but still fighting his sleepiness. Eventually, when he moved down and was in the middle of washing his stomach, he noticed that the vampire finally fell into deep slumber. The amount of love and care, on top of being in such a warm and safe environment, made him fall asleep peacefully as a baby. And his loud, pleasured purring never stopped, just quieting down a little bit. Louis smiled brightly, but continued to carefully wash his beloved friend's weary body.

Once he was done, he carefully pulled Owen out of the bathtub. He got his shirt wet in the process, but for him, he was going to go so much further. After carefully drying him with the softest towel he could find, the mayor carried his beloved to the bed and laid down right next to him.

While still asleep, Owen clung to his body, muttering Louis' name in his dream. The mayor hugged him tightly, pulling his fingers through his back, feeling each of his vertebrae. He was still so small and sickly... But he was getting better. Quickly. And Louis would not stop until he'd see his beloved fledgling healthy and the happiest he could possibly. And, with that thought as the most recent thing on his mind, he slowly dozed off, holding Owen in his arms.

Chapter 3: Snacks and memories

Summary:

Louis and Owen share a meal. Their peaceful time together prompts questions about the mayor's past.

Notes:

Oh lord how is this fic at over 40 subscribers after just 2 very irregular chapters
We're all down bad for Lovebitten aren't we
Thank you guys so much! Hope you continue enjoying this much just as much as I enjoy writing it :3

Whether Owen liked it or not, there were days when Louis had to leave him for longer than either of them wanted. He was still, after all, the mayor of Oakhurst, and his sudden disappearance would raise too many suspicions for them to risk it. Instead, every time his beloved friend had to leave, Owen roamed the house, restless and unsure what to do with himself. A few times in the past, he tried picking up one of the many books on Louis' bookshelf, but quickly got bored of them. He was literate, true, but reading never came easy to him. Leaving the house also didn't seem like an option - the less the people of Oakhurst saw Owen, the better. So, at a loss for ideas, Owen found himself cleaning around the place or napping. It's been quite a while since he finished his vampiric transformation, but his body still desperately needed to catch up on all the sleep he lost throughout his mortal life. Besides, with how keen his hearing had become, he woke up the second he heard the click of Louis' key in the lock.

And this time was no different.

Owen woke up the moment the door to the house creaked open. He raised his head with a sleepy hum, his vision slightly blurred as he was pulled from another nap on the comfy sofa. He turned on his back and tilted his head, watching with a big smile as his friend took off his wide-brimmed hat and coat. He'd love to jump out of his spot and hug him... But the sofa was just too damn warm and soft, perfect for his always sore back. He pulled his favorite blanket over himself, awaiting for Louis to pay attention to him.

"Mmmmm... Lou..." He muttered, loud purring immediately erupting from his chest. "I'm hungry..."

Louis couldn't hold back a chuckle.

"How about a ‘hello’? Or a ‘how are you’?"

"Hello, how are you? You got something to eat?"

"Hello to you too, dearest." The mayor giggled, then approached Owen and crouched next to the sofa. "How are we feeling?"

"Good... Better than good, actually..." He admitted, stretching his arms with a big yawn. His fangs clicked open. He still hasn't got a hang of them, and sometimes they worked against his will. "I missed you..."

"Believe it or not, I still gotta do my job..." Louis smiled teasingly, but then placed a small kiss on Owen's nose. The fledgling's face covered with a shy blush. "But I brought snacks... Will that satisfy my hungry little bat?"

Immediately, Owen got up from the sofa. The mayor pulled him into a warm hug, rubbing his back with an open palm. He knew exactly what worked on his fledgling, signified by his bright smile and loud purring. He grabbed both of Owen's hands, gave them both a soft kiss, then dragged him towards the table.

Somewhere in the back of his head, the lumberjack felt a bit embarrassed about how Louis' care influenced his behavior. All his life, he was used to getting up before sunrise and working himself to the bone either until the sun set, or until his body gave out. He considered himself lucky when he had food to eat for more than one day. Not to mention all the money he saved for the doctors, none of which could help him... Something Louis did without expecting anything in return. Even better, it seemed like taking care of his fledgling was enough payment for him. Owen could feel that he's gone soft, maybe a bit lazy since he began living with the elder vampire. He could finally appreciate a nice, long nap, a good meal, and some warm cuddles with his favorite person. He never had a chance to get used to any of these, and yet... He wouldn't switch out this lifestyle for anything else. Even if it made him feel a bit silly. But Louis didn't mind such a change in his behavior, right...?

As soon as they sat down at the table, Louis pulled out a gift wrapped in paper that he kept in his bag previously. The bloody scent immediately hit Owen, filling his mouth with saliva. The mayor already explained to him that heightened appetite was normal for fledglings, and that sometimes it lasted months, even years... Still, he felt a bit awkward about just how strongly his body reacted to a seemingly disgusting smell of raw meat and metallic blood. Still, he watched with his eyes wide open as Louis unwrapped what turned out to be two freshly killed rabbits. Owen's fangs, which he just managed to retract, clicked open again.

"You seem to like these, huh?" The mayor asked with a teasing smile, even though he already knew the answer. He giggled at his friend's eagerness. "Good, good... You can take the bigger one, here." He slid one of the morsels Owen's way. For a second, the lumberjack pushed his hunger and instincts away, and looked up at him.

"You sure? I can take the smaller one, I'll be fine..."

"I'm sure, dear." Louis winked at him, before his own fangs opened and pierced the dead animal's nape.

Carefully, Owen repeated the gesture. He still wasn't exactly proficient at vampiric feeding (and his sense of independence didn't allow him to ask Louis for aid), so a bit of blood immediately sprayed around him on the table. He reached out to wipe it with his sleeve, but stopped when seeing his friend giggle at the sight. Easy for him to laugh, he probably had tens or hundreds of years of experience... Actually, that was something that never occurred to Owen. Just how old Louis was? Physically, he was probably a little bit older than him. But as a vampire, he could be a hundred, or a thousand years old, or anything in between... But that mystery quickly vanished from his head as he began sucking on the rabbit's blood.

Louis was right - out of all the prey he was allowed to try thus far, rabbits were his favorite. They were small, lean, but also pleasantly earthy and a little sweet. He usually claimed that one was enough for him, but truth be told, he could probably consume two and still ask for extra. But he wasn't going to. He still wanted to give himself some sort of limit, before he accidentally exhausted Louis' hospitality. Instead, he consumed the prey slowly, as if to trick his head that he ate more than he actually did. Especially when he came to the organs, which he especially enjoyed. He couldn't help but glance at Louis every now and then. He ate with so much class and dignity... Almost as if he was enjoying an expensive steak at a five star restaurant, not devouring a freshly slain rabbit in the safety of his own home. It almost intimidated Owen... Almost. There was something incredibly comforting about the grace he carried himself with.

Despite being much messier with his meal, Owen still managed to finish before Louis. He scraped the rest of the rabbit's meat from its bones, before getting up from his chair and approaching his friend. Then, feeling a bit bolder thanks to having the first of his hunger quelled, he took a seat on Louis' lap and put his nose against the mayor's neck, purring even louder than before. The elder vampire took that without any reservations, just an amused chuckle.

"What do you want, sweetheart?"

No answer, just purring.

"You know, if you want something, you gotta tell me... You have to use your mouth for something other than just eating, every once in a while..."

Zero answer again. Instead, Owen wrapped his arms around Louis, and tilted his head so that he could look at his half-finished meal. Sure, he just finished his own meal, but... Something something, fledglings and their heightened appetite... Not to mention, Louis was enabling him this whole time. He almost didn't feel embarrassed about his clinginess.

"Let me guess... You want me to give up my food for you, right?"

Owen looked up at him, his brown eyes the biggest and the most pleading Louis had ever seen. He could barely hold back laughter at the sight. Truly, he didn't live with another vampire, but with an overgrown and shaggy kitten.

"Okay, let me rephrase it... Do you want the rest of my food?"

"Can I?" Owen asked. There we go. The remainder of his dignity did not allow him to straight up ask for Louis to give him what he clearly wanted and/or needed. Making him propose that, on the other hand... "Only if you don't want it, that is..."

"Go ahead. I caught a snack on the way home, I'll be fine."

The lumberjack immediately turned to the table, without leaving Louis' lap. He dug into the remainder of the prey, of which there was about a half or less left. His purring hitched when his friend wrapped his arms around Owen's waist. He was quite lean, sure, but there was real strength hidden under his pristine skin... And at the same time, Louis enjoyed feeling his fledgling getting healthier, warmer and softer with each passing day.

"One of these days, I'll have to leave my work so that I can hunt for you full time..." The mayor giggled, before pressing his face against Owen's spine and leaving a soft kiss there. The young vampire shivered, but relaxed the second he realized it was just a joke. "I finally gotta teach you how to hunt, huh, sweetheart?"

"You should... But it won't be of much use if you still don't allow me to leave the house..." Owen added a slightly exaggerated chuckle at the end, to make sure Louis knew he was joking. 

He wasn't exactly joking... He really did miss spending time outside, even if the sun felt unpleasantly sharp on his skin. But he could go hunting during the night, right...? Sure, cuddling with Louis was much more pleasurable, and he'd rather do that over anything else, but he really shouldn't overuse his friend's hospitality. Even if he was still playful about it... What if he changed his mind one day...? Owen shivered again at the thought.

"We'll figure something out, honey... I just want to be completely sure nothing bad will happen to you." Louis whispered, pulling him closer to himself. "These people hurt you so much... If they ever lay a finger on you, I swear..." His grip on Owen's waist tightened. Bad idea, considering how full his fledgling was at this point. Only when he heard the lumberjack cough, he loosened his arms again. "Sorry..."

"It's fine..." Owen leaned his back into Louis' embrace. "I get it... I promise, I will never go against what you tell me to do. That's... The least I can do for you..."

"Sweetheart, you don't have to do anything for me... I'm honored to have you here, honored to be the sire of such a wonderful little fledgling..."

"Sire?" He repeated, his mouth full of meat. Louis chuckled at the realization.

"Oh, right, I forgot to tell you about this... An old vampiric custom." Louis smiled, before beginning to pull his claws through Owen's long, curly hair. "The young vampires are called fledglings, and the people that turned them are called their sires."

"Do I have to call you my sire?" Owen chuckled, after finally having a chance to swallow his food. 

"Like I said, it's an old custom... You can call me whatever you want, sweetie." The mayor leaned forward and placed a small kiss on his friend's cheek. "But I am gonna call you my little fledgling. Because it's cute, just like you."

"And when does one stop being a fledgling...?" Owen turned to him, the curiosity lighting his eyes amber.

"Well, depends... Usually, when they sire someone, you stop calling them fledglings. But you'll always be my little fledgling... Just like my sire will probably never stop calling me his fledgling..."

"Who's your sire? Is he still around?"

Immediately, Louis went silent. His hands right again tightened on Owen's sides, but his claws did not pierce the fledgling's skin. That hit a sore spot, didn't it...? Owen regretted asking, regretted even thinking about that. If that mattered, Louis would've told him already, right...? And since he didn't, there was clearly something that stopped him. Which was fine. The lumberjack was in no place to ask such difficult questions.

"I'm sorry..."

"He was a bad man, Owen. I hope you never have to meet him."

"Well... Let's hope for that..."

Just a few minutes later, the fledgling finished the remainder of the second rabbit. Immediately, he leaned back into Louis' embrace, who pulled him close and kissed his temple.

"Feeling full already?"

"Very..." It wasn't exactly true, but he had a feeling that being honest would just make him seem greedy. "Can we cuddle now...?"

"Always, sweetheart..." Immediately and without breaking a sweat, Louis got up from his chair and picked up Owen. The lumberjack let out a not very manly squeal, and pulled his legs closer to himself. Just how much strength did the mayor have? Sure, his fledgling was far from large, but he wielded him with such ease, as if he was just a little kitten... "Relax, I gotchu- You're still so light, geez... Where does all this blood that you drink go?"

"Into my charm and brilliant personality?" Owen joked with a dumb smile, which immediately lit up Louis' face. He pulled his beloved closer to himself, before dragging him straight to bed. "Hey, you won't even give me a chance to wash myself after eating?"

"Hmmm... No." Louis smirked. The second his fledgling fell on their big, comfy bed, his sire leaned over him, took his slim hand, then began gently kissing and licking off the leftover blood from his fingers. "Mmm... See? This is what you get for stealing my food."

"Oh, the horror..." Owen couldn't keep a straight face to save his life. He giggled like a fool as the mayor cleaned his hands, then moved on to his mouth to 'clean' him with kisses. Immediately, he relaxed on the bed, his big, brown eyes staring at Louis with endless amounts of patience and trust. He didn't even flinch as the elder vampire moved with his kisses all over his face, turning his caresses from fast and playful, to slower and full of reverence. "Louis...?"

"Yes?"

"Have you... Have you ever sired other vampires, besides me...?"

Once again, that question made Louis freeze in place, and pull back. Owen winced at his reaction. Ugh, stupid me, he thought, last question like this went bad, what did I expect?

"I'm sorry, I didn't think about it, let's just forget-"

"I have," Louis whispered, his voice hollow. Then, he leaned over his fledgling once more. "But they don't matter, okay? You... You're my everything. My light, my darkness, my sun and my moon..." During each pause between words, he left little kisses on Owen's face. "I love you more than anything... You know that, right...?"

The mayor looked down at him, expecting doubt at the idea of not being Louis' first. What he found instead, was an unfathomable amount of admiration and desire, almost too much for his eyes to contain. Owen smiled brightly, his cute, freckled nose scrunching.

"You're the best, Lou..."

That one little comment meant so much more to him than the fledgling could ever imagine. Immediately, Louis laid down on top of his beloved, his face pressed into the nook of his neck. Owen's peaceful breathing touched his silver hair, quelling any worries and insecurities he might've held this whole time.

It was fine, they were fine... No matter where they both came from, they would be fine. Louis will make sure of that... Even if he would have to burn down the world for his precious little fledgling.

Notes:

It was supposed to be a lore-less fluff fic, and yet, I'm in the middle of coming up with Louis' backstory for this... It will probably get expanded because I like what I have in mind so far, so watch out for that :3
(also just to clarify - yes, in this AU, Scott is Louis' sire. And he will appear at some point. For the lols :3)

Chapter 4: What the fire makes of us

Summary:

Owen has a nightmare of what could've been. Louis comforts him with what they have instead.

Notes:

Funfact, I was supposed to skip writing today to focus on uni work. I did most of my biggest assingment, but it got me so tired I needed to take a break (don't worry I'm going back to work right after publishing this). So, enjoy some yaoi :3

Also, thanks for getting this fic to over 1k hits, it's actually kinda insane but I'm glad you guys are enjoying it!

The entirety of Oakhurst was engulfed in the rage of fire. 

There was not a single building, part of the outer wall or scrap of ground untouched by the flames. The heat was unbearable, the air thick with smoke and screams of terrified people. The vast majority was already claimed by a force unseen that brought destruction upon the peaceful town. The last remaining few, like headless chickens, ran for safety, of which there was none. None of them would be able to hide, none of them would survive. It all started with fire, set under a pyre for an innocent, kind man. And it was going to end with hellfire, that would burn all of them for the rest of eternity.

And Owen was right in the middle of it all. He was their hellfire.

He stumbled through Oakhurst, his body shaking after the strain of slaughtering thousands of people over a single night. His claws and bandaged hands were drenched with blood of many, his dark, big eyes wide with pain and disbelief. He didn't need to breathe anymore, but his chest rose and fell heavy with strained breaths. His mouth was filled with the metallic, sweet taste of blood.

But that wasn't enough to satisfy him. 

He walked up to the pyre, raised in the middle of the town. By this time, it was but a pile of charred wood, with a singular, malformed corpse still tied to the stake in the middle. Not caring about the leftover flames, heat and sharp edges, Owen began climbing up the pyre. No, no no no, it couldn't be, it wasn't... It was. Even if he was far away, and even though the victim of Oakhurst was barely recognizable, he recognized him. His friend, his beloved, the only man he ever truly loved in his life... Burned at stake, with no one to save him as he succumbed to an agonizing death over hours, or even days. And it was all Owen's fault... He didn't save him. He couldn't save him. And even now, no matter how fast he climbed the pyre, his beloved only seemed to be getting further and further away from him.

"Louis... Louis! Louis, please!" The young vampire begged, his voice breaking. "I'm sorry! I'm sorry I couldn't save you! Please, please, answer me... Louis..."

But there was no answer. There couldn't be an answer. He was gone.

"Louis!" Owen let out one last desperate cry. Splinters dug into his fingers as he pulled himself higher and higher. The heat was getting worse and worse, he was on the brink of passing out. But he was still too far... He didn't save the mayor. And now, he couldn't even reach him, hug him one last time, give him a proper burial, properly say goodbye... He would never feel the scent of his hair, the soft touch of his hands against Owen's body, would never see his gorgeous, brown eyes staring into his with all the love this world had to offer... And it was all Owen's fault.

And then, he woke up.

The young vampire shot up from the bed with a petrified scream. For a solid minute, he just sat there, his ribs aching from fast, rapid breathing, and the loss that tore his heart apart. Tears flowed freely down his cheeks, on his hands that were gripping a blanket like his life depended on it. Owen curled up on the bed, his scrawny body shaken with an inconsolable cry that erupted from his chest.

"Owen...? What's wrong, love...?"

The lumberjack's brain barely registered the words, and the soft touch that landed on his back. Still a bit sleepy and confused, Louis rose into a half-seated position and wrapped his arms around his friend. He was shaking... The elder vampire pulled him close, one hand gently rubbing Owen's hand to get his fingers to relax.

"Sweetheart... What's happening? I'm here, you're safe, you're gonna be okay..."

"L- L- Louis..." Owen whimpered, still focused on the nightmare to hear him.

"I'm here, honey... I'm right here..." Louis carefully reached forward and left a soft kiss on Owen's cheekbone. Only that seemed to have somewhat broken Owen out of his panicked state. His teary eyes opened, staring into the distance. He finally noticed Louis' hand trying to squeeze into his palm, so he caught it and pulled it close. "Deep breaths, dearest... It's gonna be okay... You're safe here..."

The first attempt at slowing down his breathing almost resulted in Owen breaking down again. His mind was hazy, stuck in survival mode - but, painstakingly, the fog began to clear with time. Slowly, he leaned into Louis' embrace, letting the mayor pull him as close as he could. He continued squeezing Owen's palm with one hand, the other gently stroking his hair and scratching his scalp in a comforting manner. Finally, the fledgling let out a heavy sigh that stuck to his chest like melasis, and slumped into Louis' arms. He just woke up, but he was completely exhausted, his head too heavy to keep upright.

"You need anything, honey?" The mayor asked with a warm smile, finally seeing his beloved relax a bit. His body language was still withdrawn and sluggish, but at least he seemed a lot more present and calm now. "You're hungry...?"

"Don't... Don't go..."

"I'm not going anywhere, sweetheart..." Louis leaned down and kissed Owen's cheek, wet from tears. "I wouldn't even dream of leaving you... Do you wanna talk about what happened?"

"I..." Owen sighed again, his voice bordering on whisper. "I'm sorry I woke you up..."

"It's fine, honey... Did you have a nightmare...?"

"...yes." The younger vampire chuckled bitterly. "I know, it's stupid, I... I should be better than this... I should be used to nightmares already..."

"That doesn't mean they cannot scare you from time to time... Do you wanna talk about that nightmare...?"

"I was..." He began speaking, but paused as soon as his stomach let out a rumbling noise. Now that the stress was mostly gone, his vampiric hunger returned doubled. "Ugh, sorry..."

"It's okay, it's okay..." Louis bent back a little and opened his nightstand. There, he had a few glass bottles of blood, stocked up for late night snacking purposes like this one. He uncorked it and handed it to Owen. "Take as much as you need, and then you can tell me everything. Okay?"

"Fine..."

The fledgling grabbed the bottle, his hands trembling as he put it up to his lips, and then began drinking. He didn't stop until it was completely empty. The sweet, thick liquid dripping down his throat did marvels to calm him down, and warm him up from inside. 

"You want another one?" Louis asked.

He wanted another one. He still shook his head for no.

"I was in Oakhurst... In the nightmare, I mean, but... It was burned down... Everyone was dead..." He began fidgeting with the bottle in his hands. "And I- I'm pretty sure I killed them..."

"Oh..." The elder vampire's face blanked. Fortunately, he was sitting with Owen's back to him, so that he didn't see his expression. "Why...?"

"Because... Because they burned you at the stake... They killed you, Louis, I had to, I had to do it to-" Owen suddenly paused and sighed once more. "It's just a dream... It never happened."

"It didn't, no." Louis confirmed, then pulled Owen a bit closer. But that revelation scared him... That was the exact outcome he feared, when it came to turning Owen. The only reason why he waited, instead of going through with his plan at the first opportunity. He feared the public finding out, taking him, killing him... And above all, he feared what would've happened to Owen afterwards.

Well, now he knew what would've happened. And he didn't know whether he should be impressed or terrified.

"I'm right here with you, honey... And we're both safe here." Louis whispered, hugging Owen a little bit tighter. He slid one hand under Owen's shirt, rubbing small, comforting circles on the surface of his skin. "The people will not find out... And if they do, I will deal with them."

"If they ever hurt you..." Owen tensed a little bit again, his voice a low growl. "If they even touch you, I will destroy them. All of them. I will kill them, I will make them all pay, and suffer in hell for-"

"Whoa, hey, you, calm down." Louis' voice got a little bit sharper and more serious. It softened immediately as he continued "You don't have to kill anyone. We're safe here. The people of Oakhurst will not hurt either of us... I won't let that happen. But," He tapped Owen's forehead with his finger "for that, we have to keep a low profile. Which means, no killing anyone. Unless you're directly threatened, that is. You get it?"

"Yeah... Sorry." Owen turned around and pushed his body flush against Louis. He was usually clingy, but that night, he needed closeness more than ever. After all, he just saw the charred corpse of the only person he ever loved in his life... Even if it wasn't real, it was enough to spook him. "I just... You're worth so much more than any of these dirty little mortals could ever be...?"

"Am I?" Louis chuckled. As grim as it sounded, he couldn't deny he enjoyed the flattery.

"Yes!" Owen raised his voice a little. "You're perfect, Louis... You're the most perfect man I've ever met..." He gently took the mayor's arm and pressed a kiss into the inside of his palm. "I... I'd love to spend the rest of eternity with you."

The mayor smiled, moved by the confession. Who could've thought that this poor, sickly lumberjack that he agreed to meet once upon a time, would turn into someone Louis could easily call his lover, his soulmate, his mate... He put his other hand on Owen's cheek, giggling as the fledgling pressed his cheek into it. Finally, he was less boney, and more warm... Cuddling with him was even more of a pleasure now.

"I'd love that too, sweetheart..." The elder vampire whispered, gently rubbing his cheek. Owen immediately began purring, and Louis joined him soon after. "And this is what's going to happen. I promise. It's gonna be us two, together, forever. Even if the whole world is against us."

"If the world wants to be against us... I'll burn it down. For you." A dangerous red lit up in Owen's deep eyes. Louis chuckled at the sentiment, one he didn't take especially seriously at this point. 

"I think you need to go back to sleep, honey..."

Owen sighed. 

"You don't mind that I sleep so much...?"

"Why would I? First of all, I love cuddling with you as you fall asleep," Louis explained with a cheeky smile. "And second... You've been through a lot as a human. Your body needs to recover, and that's normal."

"Did you also sleep a lot, after you got turned...?"

Louis bit his lip.

"For a while..." He whispered, but then added, to get the topic back on track "But you're looking so much better already... A far cry from that sad, scrawny, tired lumberjack I met months ago..."

Owen snickered at that.

"I'm still sad sometimes..." He whispered, putting his forehead against Louis' chest. "But it's not your fault, it's all on me..."

"It's not on you, honey... You're just a sad little guy sometimes. But you're still as lovable and wonderful as always. Even when you have a sad day..." Louis put his hands on Owen's cheeks and squeezed them gently. "And whenever you do, I'm right here to cuddle you, and remind you that it's gonna be okay. You know that, right?"

"Yes... Thank you, Louis..." The fledgling pressed his face into Louis' palms, a weak smile lighting up his face. He still looked exhausted, his eyes wet from crying, but he mostly calmed down by this point. Owen yawned, his fangs clicking open, which he commented with an annoyed grumble. "Ugh, these are driving me insane..."

"Still haven't gotten a hang of them, huh?" Louis smirked. He put one thumb in the corner of Owen's mouth, pulling his lip up to take a look at the freshly developed fangs. "Look at these... Perfect for ripping apart flesh, and massacring towns..."

"Stop it..." Owen whimpered, but couldn't hold back a giggle.

"What? I'm telling the truth... These people better leave us alone, they have no idea who they're dealing wi- Ouch!" He whimpered in quite an exaggerated manner when he felt piercing pain in his thumb. "Hey! No biting!"

"Why not?" Owen smirked, finally opening up a bit and getting brave. "I gotta put these fangs to some use..."

"Oh, don't make me use my fangs, ya hear?-"

In a matter of seconds, Owen landed with his back on the mattress, and Louis over him. The mayor leaned down with a big grin and began leaving shallow, non-painful bites all over his lover's neck. Immediately, their bedroom filled with Owen's giggling, as he struggled against the bigger, stronger vampire. Not that he wanted this to stop. He loved the attention, loved the soft affection, loved... Him. He did love Louis. But it was too early to tell him just yet, right...? They met barely months ago, and even though they just started living together... That didn't mean Louis reciprocated his feelings, right? He could wait a little, wait for the right moment...

"Owen? You alright?" Louis suddenly paused, seeing his beloved fledgling zoning out. Owen turned back to him and smiled.

"Yes, I am, I was just... Thinking. Keep going."

"You sure?"

"More than anything else in the world."

Louis nodded and soon, he was back at showering Owen with soft, loving displays of affection. The fledgling put his fingers through his sire's hair, gripping them in a way that wouldn't hurt, but one that would allow him to stay present and in the moment. Every breath in his lungs, every cell in his body, every thought in his head - all of them were full to the brim at that point were so full of love for this man... At that moment, he didn't doubt it one bit. He would burn the world down for him.

Chapter 5: A cure for melancholy, pt. 1

Summary:

Owen's sadness has not vanished even now, that he's living with Louis. He looks for a way to make his friend see just how grateful he truly is.

Notes:

This started out as a discussion among my friends about what is the vampire equivalent of catnip. Ended up with me coming up with Owen taking garlic to fix his mood in front of Louis :3

This chapter, as well as the next one, will depict behaviors resembling substance abuse and withdrawal. If you're uncomfortable with that, please skip these two uploads! I will be back to more cheerful fluffy topics soon, pinky promise :3

There was nothing Owen loved more than waking up in Louis' bedroom, tangled in the sheet, the sweet scent of his friend permeating the air. Knowing he has nowhere to rush, he could just lay there, bask in the warmth and comfort. This morning Louis had to leave early for work, so as soon as Owen woke up, he turned on his back with a soft sigh and covered his eyes. It was definitely one of the days where getting out of bed would be a challenge. Especially since Louis left... He could just stay in bed, not move until the mayor would be back home, and then he would get his attention again...

The lumberjack groaned and turned back on his stomach. He was embarrassing himself, wasn't he? The fact that he couldn't even get out of bed, when Louis wasn't around... No, even when he was around, there were days when everything felt like too much for him. He was never especially energetic or cheerful, but he hoped that would change once he got cured, and started living with Louis, he would change... The world would get brighter for him. But somehow, it didn't. Of course, he was happy that he now lived with Louis, and was really excited for their future together... But he didn't feel fulfilled just yet. Was he being ungrateful...?

Reluctantly, Owen lifted himself from the bed. A groan escaped his lungs as his joints burned with strain. Vampirism cured his leprosy, sure, but it didn't heal all of the damage done to his body. He dragged himself to the bathroom to wash himself, trying to push away the pain and exhaustion sticking to his bones. He would be fine, he just had to get through it...

Finally, Owen left the bathroom, dressed in Louis' old clothes and with his face clean. That did little to help his mood, however. The warm bed was just too inviting, he could return there and wait for Louis... No, he couldn't be this lazy and this ungrateful. He sat in their living room, fidgeting with his developing claws and trying to occupy his mind. It would still take hours for Louis to return... And Owen would probably not be feeling better by that time. He rarely did. This feeling of melancholy filled his chest, and never truly went away. Even when they were in the middle of cuddling, even when their lips intertwined into soft, loving kisses, Owen couldn't shake off this sadness that loomed over him. And he could tell that Louis noticed it as well, with how often he paused to ask whether his friend was feeling okay. And each time, Owen was taken aback. Did he just always look so sad? Did it make Louis think that Owen didn't love him? What if he gets tired, thinking that his fledgling is ungrateful of the gift he was bestowed?

He had to fix that. Quickly.

---

That day, the sun was hidden behind the thick veil of clouds. It didn't burn Owen's skin as harshly, but he still covered his arms and head. Force of habit... Appearing out in the public, suddenly cured, would raise too many suspicions. He would just keep a low profile, pretend as if he was still sick and suffering. He's been like that for so long, tapping back into that would not be easy.

Owen roamed the market on the town square, looking for some sort of fix. He did not particularly enjoy the loud hum of the crowd and people bumping into him. Well, that was a bit better than everyone avoiding him like the plague... Or was it? As long as they didn't catch onto him, he'd be safe... He pulled his shawl more tightly over his head. Maybe some alcohol would be enough to make him act more cheerful... Louis proposed alcohol to him a few times in the past. Owen always refused, but that meant it wouldn't hurt him as a vampire, right?

Eventually, as he took a step back from the crowd to reconsider his decision, he suddenly heard a familiar, feminine voice calling out to him.

"Owen! You're okay! Where were you, boy?"

The vampire turned around, hiding his hands as much as he could. An older woman was standing at a vegetable stand, waving her hand to him. She remembered his name...? He took a deep breath and approached her.

"I've been, uh... A bit busy." He clarified, walking up to the stand, but keeping a distance to not reveal his disguise. "I'm... Working for mayor Louis now."

"Good for you, lad! It's been a while since you've been around... How are you feeling, boy?"

"It's, uh... I've been slowly getting better," He answered quietly, hoping he wouldn't sound suspicious. He still couldn't believe it. All his life, he was shunned, pushed away, seen as a disgusting monster... Yet this one person remembered him. Cared about his health. She was probably the only one, and yet... It made Owen feel a strange sort of warmth in his chest. "I found a man that could finally help me... But I still have a long way to go, I think."

The woman pulled down a string of garlic, hanging from the roof of her stall. She then handed it to Owen, who looked down at the gift with a slightly disgusted expression.

"Here. I heard tis' good for all sicknesses... And for keeping monsters away. Try it!"

"Oh... Thank you..." 

Owen winced as he took the string of garlic. There were several heads tied together with a piece of string. The smell was disgusting... And Louis already warned him of consuming garlic as a vampire. But if he refused the gift, it would come off as suspicious, wouldn't it...? Carefully, he pulled out a single clover, then took the tiniest nibble possible. He almost began choking as the overwhelming, disgusting taste filled his mouth. 

"Mmmm... Thank you, that's... Very kind..." He grimaced, struggling to not spit it all out. The taste eventually faded to the back of his mouth, much quicker than Owen would've expected. "I- Uh... I gotta go now, I gotta get to work soon..."

"Stay safe out there, lad!"

Owen waved at the woman, before walking away back towards Louis' house. He needed to lie down... Being in a crowd already exhausted him, and having to taste garlic made it so much worse. He could only hope that Louis would be back soon...

---

"I'm home! Sweetheart...?" Louis called out as soon as he closed the door. He expected to find his lover laying on the couch, napping away as he waited for him to return. But the couch was empty... And instead, Owen was sitting on their table, sipping away on one of Louis' many bottles of crimson. The second he saw the mayor returned, his eyes lit up with excitement.

"Louis!" He jumped down from the bed and tackled the vampire into a hug, which was met with laughter. Louis couldn't recall the last time he was greeted with this much enthusiasm... Especially after Owen was so quiet and withdrawn the last few days... That was a very welcomed change. "You're back! You're so handsome..."

"Why, thank you, dear..." The mayor smirked and kissed his forehead. Owen's pupils were slightly dilated, shaky purring constantly rumbling in his chest. "Someone's in a good mood, hm?"

Owen nodded with a big smile, his fangs opened. He grinned as Louis leaned down and left a soft kiss on his forehead.

After returning home, he had to lay down for a while, to let his body recover from the shock of being in a crowd, and ingesting a little bit of garlic. But, soon after, he began feeling... Strange. His head suddenly got hazy, but at the same time, unnaturally light. His vampiric hunger seemed even greater than more overwhelming than usual, making him down three bottles of crimson up until Louis returned - and he wouldn't mind sharing some more, now that he was back. And with each bottle, his body felt lighter, stronger and healthier. He snuggled up to Louis, pulling him more tightly.

"Someone seems really happy today..." The elder vampire grinned, rubbing his back "Did something happen?"

"No... I'm just happy you're here..."

"Ah, I see... I brought us dinner, but I see you already ate...?"

"I can eat with you!" The fledgling purred, rubbing his cheek against Louis' chest.

"Right, of course... Is there ever a time when you're not hungry?" Louis smirked, letting go of his lover and approaching the table. "I got us some chickens today, hope you enjoy them..."

Owen enjoyed the chickens thoroughly. Even though he had a hard time aiming for the artery, and ultimately spilled a lot of blood, he devoured his meal as if he was a starved animal. The whole time, he was smiling and sometimes giggling to himself, looking up at Louis with adoration. He couldn't remember the last time he felt this great... Maybe when he first met the mayor, the first time he began feeling kinship with the man. This ecstasy of being accepted, and cherished, and maybe even loved... Even after he finished, Louis agreed to share the rest of his meal with him, and Owen accepted without another word. Finally, as soon as he was done, he slumped over Louis and sighed a deep breath of relief. He could probably use a nice, long nap at this moment... However, his head was loud, buzzing with a sudden rush of dopamine that he didn't want to end. Falling asleep would probably prove quite a challenge.

"How we feelin', sweetheart?" Louis smirked, pulling his hands all over Owen's body. The lumberjack grinned, the touch spreading pleasurable chills through his body.

"Amazing..." He purred, wrapping his arms around Louis' waist. "Never felt better..."

"Good, good..."

Louis knew should be excited at this sudden change in mood. He loved Owen as he was, with all his quirks and all his weirdness, and yet... There was something odd about him. He was never this energetic, this cuddly. His way of showing love was usually more subdued, more shy and gentle... A stark contrast to this display of affection. Should he be worried...?

"You know, today was a lot..." Louis sighed, leaning back in his chair. "I'd kill for a good nap together, you know...?"

"I'd love that... Wait!" Owen's head suddenly perked up and he got up from his chair. "I'll be right back, okay?"

"Uh... Sure, sure..."

The fledgling dashed into their bedroom. He left the string of garlic on the nightstand, and the smell already filled the room. Owen pushed the windows open, to let some fresh air in, then wrapped the garlic in his old shirt and stuffed it deep in their closet. If Louis saw it, that would betray that Owen went outside... And he'd rather wait until the mayor was okay with that.

Soon, the two of them were laying in bed, cuddling. Owen was a lot more reactive than usual, giggling at any touch of Louis' warm, soft hands. He let his hair down and wriggled on the bed. The world was spinning around him, his eyes were shining brightly as he looked up at his closest friend, wordlessly begging for more. At some point however, the exhaustion got the better of the mayor, and he slumped on bed, caressing Owen's hair with great care.

"You're so cute..." He whispered, watching as the lumberjack pressed his body against his hands, seeing pressure and comfort. "So happy, so cheerful... I love you like this..."

"You do...?" Owen asked quietly.

"Mhm..."

Eventually, Louis fell into deep slumber, his hand still tangled in Owen's hair. The lumberjack still grinned and giggled, a bit quieter this time to not wake him up. But he couldn't sleep, as his head was still way too loud. But Louis loved him like this... Whatever he did to cause his mood to get like this, he had to keep this up...

With time, the pleasant warmth in Owen's chest began to vanish. He sighed heavily, hugging Louis in search of comfort. All of a sudden, his body began feeling cold and started shaking. To make it even worse, his hunger returned, despite having finished their shared dinner not too long ago. The fledgling just laid there, trying to fall asleep as the gnawing feeling in his stomach intensified. How much he'd give for that blessed state to return...

Maybe he could...?

Slowly, Owen slid out of Louis' embrace and approached the closet again. He couldn't be sure just yet, but... This pleasant state of enebriation happened coincidentally just after his trip outside. After he had to try some garlic... But that couldn't be that, could it? Garlic was bad to him... It couldn't be the reason he felt so amazing. Unless... He opened the closet door and unwrapped the string of garlic. The smell was still disgusting... But it didn't wake up Louis. Carefully, Owen pinched the tiniest bit of the open clover, and put it in his mouth.

At first, the disgusting, rancid smell filled his mouth again, and Owen barely held back from coughing. But then... The warmth returned. His heart rate picked up, the world spinning once more. The lumberjack hid his stash once more, then returned to the bed once more. That was so much better... He could get used to it. Even despite the heightened hunger, and the strange lightheadedness.

Since Louis loved it so much...

Chapter 6: A cure for melancholy, pt. 2

Summary:

Louis finds about what Owen tried hiding from them. Their relationship goes through the first shake up.

Notes:

I was going to wait a few days before continuing the Owen gets drugged saga, but I couldn't wait.... I needed some serious hurt/comfort :3

Louis couldn't shake off a strange feeling when all of a sudden, he was greeted each day with energized, peppy Owen. It was a stark contrast to his usual soft gloominess. As much as the mayor loved comforting his lover, holding him in his arms and kissing all over his face, there was something so... Odd about this new version of him. All of a sudden, he was so hyperactive, touchy and reactive... At first, Louis thought that maybe his fledgling found where the mayor stored his alcohol, and decided to take a bit for himself without telling him. But no, that couldn't be it - the stash seemed untouched. Maybe his sad days were just a thing of the past, and it was going to stay like this...?

But there were still things that concerned Louis. Every now and then, Owen got even quieter and more miserable than always, and even cuddling didn't seem to do anything to help his mood. He just laid limply in bed, as if even lifting his head was too much of an effort. His eyes seemed distant, hazy, as if he wasn't really there. Whenever they shared a meal, the lumberjack became ravenous, gorging himself on anything he was brought and never seeming quite satisfied. Louis also began picking up on the subtle changes in his appearance. The excited shine in his eyes looked almost artificial, and once it vanished, his face suddenly was dim once more. His hair lost a lot of its softness, his hands were shaky, his body bloated even when long past a good meal. The mayor couldn't even recall the last time he saw his fledgling sleep properly... And as much as he didn't want to show it, he was getting more and more worried for him with each day.

"Oh gosh, darling... Your hands are so cold..." Louis muttered, pulling Owen's palms close and kissing them gently. "Are you feeling okay...?"

"I'm feeling great..." The lumberjack hummed, pushing himself against Louis in search of warmth. As the hot feeling in his chest faded, he desperately searched for more in the body of his friend.

"Sweetie... You're shaking..." Louis put his hand on Owen's cheek, squishing it gently. The other landed on his waist, rubbing his slightly bloated skin. "You're not sick, are you?"

"Sick?" He chuckled nervously "I'm a vampire, Lou, I can't get sick..."

"But you can still feel unwell as a vampire. You know, from sitting on the sun to long, or being exposed to garlic, or silver, or-"

"Garlic?" Owen tensed and pressed himself further into Louis' arms. "No, no, don't be ridiculous- Where would I ever?"

The mayor squinted, then sighed as his fledgling began struggling for more attention. He was almost like a shaky, nervous kitten, and that sight was breaking Louis' heart. He had to be missing something... Owen never acted like this. Even when they first met, he was never this jittery, this tense...

"Wait for me for a moment, okay? I should probably change after work..." Louis left a soft kiss on Owen's forehead, before getting up from under him and entering their bedroom.

The mayor frowned as he opened the closet and a rancid smell hit him. He's been feeling it for the past few weeks, but at first, he just blamed it on their clothes needing washing. But no, that wasn't it, he just washed everything... Did they get mice in the house? They wouldn't smell so earthly, though... 

"What is this...?" He muttered, hanging his shirt at last and looking through the closet. A few pieces of clothes fell off the hangers and were now laying across the bottom. He picked up one shirt, intending to hang it-

And then, the rancid smell hit him at full force. 

Louis winced and stepped back, barely holding himself back from throwing up. Something dropped out of the tossed shirt. As his eyes watered from the disgusting stench, it took him a moment to make out what that was. A string of garlic, half-eaten, some heads ripped out fully and only stems remaining. The mayor covered his mouth and nose, pinching the stems and picking them up. How the hell did it get here? Did someone suspect him, and left it there? But how? Who could've gotten there? Owen would never let anyone in when Louis was away-

And then, it finally sunk in his head. Owen had to have brought it here... But why? And why was it half-eaten? He didn't eat this disgusting thing, did he? After all, garlic was incredibly dangerous to vampires. It stunted their powers, messed with their mind...

Louis looked down at the string of garlic. He should confront Owen about that, shouldn't he? Even if just to make sure he didn't actually do something bad to himself... But he was afraid of accidentally hurting Owen's feelings, of being too forceful, of getting angry. He promised himself that he would never get angry with him, that he would always give him nothing but care...

But caring for him meant protecting him from danger. Even if he had to get a little upset.

"Owen...?" Louis poked out of the bedroom. "Could you come here for a moment?"

"Huh? Yeah, yeah..." Owen mumbled. He got up, his step a bit wobbly, and walked up to his friend. "What's up, baby...?"

"Is this yours?"

Owen's pointy ears pinned down at the sight of garlic in Louis' hand. Especially, once he noticed his stern, frowned expression. He looked at the vegetable, trying to hold back from licking his lips or showing his hunger in any other way. It's been a few hours since he has taken some... And lately, he needed to take more than one clove for the effect to hit...

"Uh... No...?"

"Then how did it end up in my- In our closet?"

There was no point in lying, was there? Maybe if Owen explained, he'd understand... The lumberjack took a step forward, putting his hand on the string of garlic.

"Lou, it's fine... I've been feeling great... We can cuddle for days, and I still wouldn't have enough of you..."

"So you did!" Louis raised his voice, for the first time since meeting this sweet, kind, sad lumberjack. "Owen, you can't be eating this thing! It's dangerous!"

"It's not! I'm doing great! See?" Owen chuckled, but his smile faded when Louis' expression got even more upset. "Hey, I'm doing this for you! So that you don't have to put up with me being sad all the time!"

"What? You've been drugging yourself to hide from me how you really feel?-"

"What? No, I- Okay, maybe- Bu-but it's just the bad parts! You deserve so much more- I was just- I wanted you to be happy!"

The elder vampire grimaced at the frantic confession. He let go of Owen, then approached the window and threw the garlic outside with one swoop. Instantly, he saw his fledgling dash in that direction, and caught him seconds before he dropped out of the window to follow his fix.

"Owen! Calm down, dang it!" He groaned, pulling the hissing and flailing vampire away from the window. "What's going on with you?!"

"Let go of me! I need it back!"

"No, you don't!"

"I do! I hate you!"

Louis' heart was crossed with a wave of pain. Owen didn't truly mean that, right? He was just upset, and not in his right mind... Filled with a new surge of protectiveness, Louis pulled him even closer in his arms, and fell on the bed with him, pressing him against the mattress with his own body weight.

"Owen, sweetheart, please, calm down..." He pleaded as the angry fledgling fought back, growling and hissing and screaming and cursing Louis out. 

The mayor groaned in pain as his lover's teeth sunk into his arm. The need to slap him away, to scream at him, beat him into submission... No, he wouldn't. He promised himself he would never stoop that low. That he would never be like him. Even if that hurts. There has to be a way to do it differently... Even if it hurts a lot more. 

"Let me go! I don't wanna be here!" The lumberjack growled, struggling against Louis' strength, much greater than his own at that moment. His eyes watered, his chest tightened and his whole body began aching. At the same time, Louis pressed on his back, hiding his face in Owen's hair. He wouldn't let him go, would he? If only he already learned how to transform into a bat already, he would've just turned and escaped... "Don't touch me! I hate you! I hate you so much!"

"It's okay, Owen... Please... Please, calm down... You'll be okay..." The mayor begged him. He wanted to listen, he wanted to let him go... But he was too volatile, a danger to himself and everyone around. He had to keep him down. Even if that made Owen hate him.

Eventually, his screaming died down, as Owen started losing his remaining strength. Louis turned to the side, laying on the bed with him, still holding him tightly in his arms, not letting him go. The yelling turned into growling, into wailing, into fast, uneven breathing as the fledgling was depleted of his energy. He curled up on the bed, shaking, his eyes filled with tears as the realization of what he did slowly dawned upon him. The past few weeks were all just a blur, filled with ecstasy, pleasure and sweet bliss... But the last few hours became painfully clear in his mind. All the things he said and did, and the realization that Louis was there to witness all of that. He couldn't hold back a soft cry.

"Honey... It's okay..." Louis pulled him a bit closer, back from a more relaxed grip. "I gotchu..."

"I'm sorry..." Owen muttered. "I'm so sorry, Louis, I- I don't hate you..."

"I know, sweetheart... I know you don't..." Louis leaned over his face and kissed his cheek, then slumped over Owen once more. "How are you feeling...?"

"Tired... And hungry... I need more..."

"I can get you food, sweetie, but you won't eat any more garlic."

"Why not?" He whimpered, turning on his back with a pleading expression.

"You know why, honey... It's not good for you..." Louis sat up on the bed, pulling his thumb over Owen's cheek to wipe his tears. "Didn't this garlic give you a tummyache, or something...?"

Silence, Owen turned away to not have to look him in the eye.

"Owen...?"

"It did..." He sighed. "Everything hurts... If I can just have one last clove-"

"No, Owen."

"Just half...?"

"Owen, no! Sweetheart..." Louis pulled him into his arms. Finally, the lumberjack slumped into his embrace, letting his friend comfort him. "You're not getting a clove, or a half, or a pinch, or even just a lick. I know it's hard" he quickly added before Owen could protest "but you don't need it, believe me. You don't need it for anything..."

"I do..." The lumberjack whimpered, hiding his face in Louis' chest. "I hate this feeling, of... Of not feeling happy, despite being here, with you..."

"Sweetie... You don't have to be happy and cheerful all the time.. And I'd hate to push that onto you..." Louis muttered, pressing a soft kiss on his temple. "There's nothing wrong with being a little sad sometimes... Especially after all that you've been through. I won't blame you for being a little sad sometimes."

"But... You hate it, don't you...? I see how you look at me when I feel like this..."

"Oh, darling..." Louis sighed, pulling his lover on top of himself. He started gently stroking his trembling body "I don't hate any part of you... I don't want you to suffer, true, but I'd never hate you for feeling your emotions... Even if they're not exactly positive. I'd take that a hundred times over you hurting yourself to feel better..."

Owen sighed and fell into Louis' arms. Now that his rush has ended, his body felt more exhausted and heavy than ever. He'd love nothing more than to just fall asleep, right then and there, and not wake up for at least two hundred years. But sleeping still didn't seem like an option, as the static in his ears was too loud, too distracting. It would probably take him hours to finally fall asleep, and then, he'd have to deal with the vivid nightmares that kept him up in the past weeks. But he needed sleep so badly... If not for his body, then at least for his sanity.

"It hurts..." He eventually mumbled.

"What hurts you?"

"Everything..." Owen whined, leaning into Louis for more comfort. "I'm starving..."

"You've been even more hungry lately than usual..." The mayor smiled, gently patting his side, which was met with Owen's quiet whimper. "But I guess it was because of your, uh... Garlic intake...?"

"It was..." The lumberjack sighed. He watched with big, pleading eyes as Louis reached into his nightstand, pulling out a new bottle of blood. After being handed it, Owen uncorked it and took a big sip and sighed. "I don't think it's gonna be enough..."

"Take as much as you want. Just don't get a tummy ache, okay?"

The fledgling eventually finished drinking, and then emptied one more bottle. Finally, the static in his head lessened, and he was able to close his eyes. That was not enough to quell his heightened hunger.

"I'm sorry..."

"It's okay, sweetie..." Louis smiled and kissed his cheek again "Take all the time you need... You probably need a nap, don't you...?"

"Mhm..." Owen finally fell into Louis' embrace, intending to finally fall asleep. He still wriggled around a bit, struggling to get a comfortable position. His whole body ached, he was feeling bloated and heavy and his arms were painfully itchy and cold. What he'd do for one little clover of garlic to calm his nerves, and get his feelings back in control... But that was no longer an option. Laying in Louis' embrace and his warm hands would have to do.

---

Louis took the next few days off to take care of his beloved. He covered all the windows more tightly than usual, set up a cosy nest in their bed and did whatever it took to comfort Owen as he struggled with withdrawal. The fledgling was constantly sleepy, fidgety and hungry, but at least his fit of rage never repeated. And for a good reason - as the marks of a vampire's teeth never fully healed, Louis now had a permanent mark on his arm, reminding him of seeing his lover at his lowest. Every time the lumberjack was reminded of the damage that he did, he hugged Louis a little tighter, gently rubbing his calloused hands against Louis' scar in hopes of bringing him some comfort. He was very embarrassed about what he did to himself, but every now and then, he managed to crack a smile, which warmed the mayor's heart.

Finally, one day about a week later, Owen was left alone for the first time since Louis found out the truth. He was a bit apprehensive about leaving his fledgling alone, fearing that he would find him hurt, or relapsed. However, as soon as the mayor finally returned home, he found his lover napping on the sofa in the most relaxed, peaceful position that he could find. He was so deep in his slumber that he didn't even wake up at the sound of the door opening. With a big, relieved smile, Louis approached his beloved and sat on the ground next to him. Owen was snoring quietly, stretched across the sofa. He kept one hand over his eyes, to shield them from the little amounts of light seeping through the windows. The second he kept on his stomach, slightly softer thanks to his recent indulgence. His pointy ears twitched, and he let out a soft yawn, waking up from his nap.

"How are you feeling, sweetie...?" Louis asked with a soft smile.

"Ugh... Sleep..." He muttered. 

"Wanna go back to sleep?"

"Mhm... Can you join me...?"

"Always, sweetheart..."

Louis slid behind him on the sofa, and Owen immediately pushed his back against him. He stretched even further, occupying most of the space. With a soft sigh, the fledgling turned to his friend, his big, brown, sleepy eyes staring at him with all of the love in the world.

"Does your arm still hurt...?"

"No, it doesn't... I'm fine, sweetie..."

"I'm sorry..."

"It's fine, dearest. I forgive you."

"You do...?" Owen sighed and hugged him tightly. "I love you..."

Louis smiled gently and left a soft kiss on Owen's lips, watching as his fledgling slumped back into deep, calm sleep. The mayor sighed and looked down at his injured arm. The pain was almost gone, only really flaring up when he tried picking up something heavy. He would probably need a few more days for the pain to vanish completely... Although the mental image of his partner furious and not in his right mind would never quite leave his head. Eventually, he pulled Owen even closer, then joined him in a peaceful nap.

Chapter 7: Love will change you

Summary:

Louis does his best to show Owen just how loved and cherished he truly is.

There was one thing Owen enjoyed even more than napping in Louis' house. Sometimes, when the conditions were just right, he drifted off into this half-asleep state, somewhere between dreams and reality. He soaked in some of the sensations from the world around him, but his mind was far, far away. It got so much better whenever Louis joined him with gentle cuddles and soft kisses that covered all of his tired body. And this time was no different. Just as Owen was far, far away in his thoughts, he suddenly felt someone's warm, gentle hand land in the middle of his naked back. Immediately, purring erupted from his chest, but he didn't open his eyes just yet. His friend had to do a little more to gain his full attention. At that moment, the fledgling felt more like a cat, all sleepy, snuggly and adored by his sire.

"My sweet, sweet batty..." The mayor leaned over and kissed Owen right behind his ear. He giggled as Owen flickered his ear, without giving actual signs of conscience just yet "You're so, so beautiful..."

"You say that a lot..." The lumberjack chuckled quietly. In his boundless grace, he moved over a little to let Louis slide into the bed next to him and continue cuddling him. 

"I know... But I have my reasons. Like this..." Suddenly, Owen felt a little soft pinch on his side. "I can't help but notice you've gotten a little chubby lately... Or am I just seeing things?"

"You're just seeing things," The fledgling murmured, his cheeks slowly covering with a blush.

Sure, he noticed that too. And it's not like this came out of nowhere. His friend always made sure that he ate plenty, and never denied him anything. Owen was always on the skinny side, mostly due to his demanding job, and lack of money he could spend on food... But that was no longer his reality. It's been months since he had to lift his axe, and since he had to worry about something to put in his mouth. Louis made sure he could get as comfortable as possible. And even if that meant Owen got a little compliant and lazy... He'd take that any day, over the pain and exhaustion that his illness caused him, in combination with his job.

But now that Louis pointed it out, he should no longer deny it...

"You sound embarassed..." Louis smirked. He began gently pulling the tips of his claws over his lover's side, causing his purring to get louder. "You don't have to be... You're looking so much stronger and healthier now, you're gorgeous..."

Owen turned on his side, his back resting against Louis' chest. He looked at him with a sleepy expression, warm blush covering his cheeks. All it took was a little smile for Louis' unbeating heart to go soft at the sight. He was already pretty when they met, but now, after such a long time of living together... His face was no longer so hollow and sunken, even though the shadows under Owen's eyes were not completely gone just yet. His beautiful, dark hair got stronger and even curlier, not to mention slightly longer. His eyes were bright and, ironically, full of life, but also love and happiness. His stare was just so curious, like that of a cat... At this point, all of his old wounds turned into scars, the pain they caused lessening significantly. Louis could also swear that even the marbled, diseased parts of his skin got healthier and softer, even if the blemishes would probably never truly vanish. The elder vampire carefully pulled his claws over his lover's stomach, enjoying the slight layer of softness it gained. A real sign that he was recovering, both mentally and physically. He was getting stronger and more comfortable in his own skin. And that was something that Louis adored watching happen in real time.

"You're so obsessed with me..." Owen snickered playfully.

"I am..." Louis grinned, his fangs popping open. "You have no idea just how much, dearest..."

"I guess I don't..."

"Want me to show you...?"

Owen chuckled nervously. That playful glint in Louis' eyes... He knew it all too well.

"Sure..."

"Great... Just relax, and let me take care of everything..."

Louis pushed Owen to turn on his stomach, before hovering over him and leaning down to leave a soft kiss on his cheek. His hands landed on his back and began gently massaging his skin, with great reverence and care. He could feel quite a few knots, that kept his back more tense than it should be. Immediately, he began applying pressure on them, trying to untie them and bring more pleasure to his fledgling. Owen let out a soft gasp, then covered his mouth with his forearm to stop himself from making any more embarrassing noises.

"Oh, sweetheart... Don't hold back... I love hearing your voice, you know?" Louis leaned forward and whispered that straight to Owen's ear, then kissed the tip of his ear. He giggled when another flicker of the ear hit him in the nose. "Ouch!"

"Sorry..." Owen whimpered.

"I love you... So, so much..." Louis whispered. He sat on his fledgling's lower back, applying pressure to his hips, then continued his massage. "You're so gorgeous... And so funny, and witty... And so, so cute... You're the best thing that ever happened to me. And, believe me, I had quite a few things happen to me..."

"Stooop..." The lumberjack whispered, covering his face to hide the blush. It was still visible, though, as it even covered his ears. The mayor smirked, before reaching out and beginning to scratch Owen right behind his right ear. "Why are you doing this...?"

"What? You mean this?" All of a sudden, the fledgling felt a soft kiss right between his shoulderblades. A quiet huff slipped his lips.

"M-mhm..."

"Oh, I have a lot more where that came from." 

Louis smirked, then continued massaging Owen. He hummed something quietly, all the while untying the knots on his back and gently scratching his skin. He could feel any last traces of tension leaving his lover's body, as he slumped on the bed, his breathing sometimes hitching from the pleasure, sometimes calming down again. Louis loved just how reactive and sensitive he was... Although it saddened him, to think he was the first person who treated the young lumberjack like that. He was such a sweet, kind and wonderful person, not to mention absolutely beautiful... But he was shunned due to something as irrelevant as some illness. (Irrelevant to an immortal vampire, that is. Even someone as self-conscious as Louis couldn't deny that being alive for so long gave him some biases that put him ever further apart from the humans.) So now, he had to make up for over twenty years of being alone, unloved, underappreciated... And he was going to double, or even triple it. Whatever was necessary to make Owen as happy as possible.

"You sure you don't mind that I look like this now...?" Owen whispered half-sleepily.

"Like what?" Louis asked, but at the same time, a devilish smile lit up his face.

"You know... That I've gotten..." The word lingered on the fledgling's tongue. He never expected to use it to refer to himself, and here he was now... "You know... Fat."

"First of all, you're far from that. You're just a lot healthier than you used to be... Back when we met, you were literally skeletal..."

"I was...?"

"Remember when I first hugged you?" Louis chuckled. "I could feel your ribs press against me, all of them. And now..." His claws pulled against his skin once more. "Okay, I can still feel your ribs. But I can still tell there's improvement!" He added, his claws moving a little lower. "Haven't you been feeling warmer lately? Or more energetic?"

"I mean, I still sleep most of the time, but... Mostly because I want to, not because I have to," Owen snickered. "And, uh... Wait, you're right... I do feel warmer."

"You still hoard all the blankets, though..." Louis smirked and left another kiss, this time on Owen's nape. The fledgling let out a gasp, his head perking up a little. "But the extra padding is definitely helping you keep your warmth. Not to mention, you look so sweet, and cuddly...?"

"Oh gosh... Stop it..." Owen whimpered, covering his face once more. "This is so embarrassing..." 

"Hey, hey, dear, come here..." The fledgling let out a whimper once his friend turned him on his back, then sat back down on his hips. He gently grabbed Owen's wrists and pulled them away from his face, making Owen look up at him. His face was all red from blushing, but his eyes were wide and bright from pleasure. "Why is it embarrassing? It's just the two of us, sweetheart... No one is watching, no one is judging."

"You're not judging me...?"

"Goodness, no! How could I ever?" Louis giggled, then bent forwards once more and intertwined his lips with Owen's. Their bodies pressed against each other, the lumberjack finally relaxing completely. Their kiss lasted long, but not as long as either of them wanted. Then, the mayor began peppering Owen's face with kisses, letting his warm breath tickle his fledgling. "Look at you... So pretty, so sweet... Are you sure you're not an angel...?"

"It would be weird if I was an angel and a vampire." Owen stuck his tongue out with a playful smile. Finally, he was getting a bit bolder, a bit more comfortable playing off Louis' teasing. The elder vampire smirked, his face hovering right over Owen's.

"My gorgeous, gorgeous thing..." He whispered, his breath lingering on Owen's skin. "Has anyone ever told you that your freckles are the cutest thing ever?"

"Well, to be honest... Most of what you tell me, no one has ever told me before" He giggled. "No one ever called me beautiful, or gorgeous, and all these other things..."

"Well they should! Because you are..." Louis' hands landed on Owen's cheeks, which he pressed gently. "Finally, your cheekies are not so sunken... They got a little squishy... Just a little, though..."

"You don't have to baby talk me..." Owen whispered in an embarrassed tone.

"You want me to stop?"

"...no."

"Good..." Louis smirked and squished his cheeks once more. "My sweet, chubby bat... And you look so good with some more pounds on you... Like you were always meant to be like this."

"Well, to be honest... Considering my profession, I was probably smaller than I should be," Owen admitted sheepishly. "I could still do my job, sure, but it was... Draining. Really draining."

"I can tell..." Louis grabbed his calloused, scarred hand, and pressed it against his own cheek. His skin, in comparison, was pristine and soft, untouched by signs of damage or aging. The only blemish on his body was the old bite mark, on his left shoulderblade, and the more recent one, on his arm. "I can promise you, sweetheart... Now, you will never have to work again. You can just stay here, in bed, and look gorgeous for the rest of time..."

"What if I... Want to go back to work...?" Owen asked carefully. Seeing Louis' smile fade, he quickly added "I- I mean, at least sometimes... I know my job is hard, but maybe now that I'm healthy, it would be a bit more... Relaxing...? Besides," he added with a silly smile "I need to stay in shape somehow..."

The mayor weighed his words for a moment. If it was all up to him, he'd rather Owen stayed right here, with him, until the end of the world... Just two immortal beings, basking in each other's presence and this incredible intimacy that they shared... But that was the point. This time, it wasn't all up to him. Owen was his own person. As much as he loved Louis, sometimes he wanted and needed to do his own thing. And he needed to respect that, even if his selfishness, greed and lust advised him otherwise.

"If you promise me to not overwork yourself, and stay safe..."

"I promise." 

The smile returned on Louis's smile. He moved back a little, before leaning over Owen again, then beginning to cover his body in soft, gentle kisses. He started on his cheek, then worked down his chin, neck, chest and stomach. At the same time, he kept rubbing gentle, loving circles on his partner's side, and whispering sweet compliments against his skin. His warmth and sweet scent wrapped around Owen like a comfy blanket. He wanted to fall asleep, but against his better judgement, he kept his eyes open - glued to Louis, lovingly watching all the love that poured out of him like a waterfall. The soft, gentle feeling on his body was unlike anything he had ever felt. He had never felt this wanted, this needed, this loved... To the point where his throat began tightening with emotions. With time, his eyes watered, as the realization finally sunk in. This would be his life now... No longer would he be confined to the outskirts of Oakhurst and his small, cold hut. The days of illness and loneliness were behind him. Now, he was finally moving on to a new era, where he was adored and cherished for being just the way he was - with baggage, scars and all. Just months ago, it seemed like an impossible dream, which would never become his reality...

And here he was.

"My sweet, sweet bat..." Louis whispered, his kisses covering his lover's stomach. "My sweetiest, prettiest little guy... I love how you- Owen...?" He suddenly paused when the sounds of quiet sobbing reached him. Louis lifted his head, immediately concerned for his beloved. "What's wrong...?"

"I just..." Owen whimpered, his face once again covered. His state at this point was clear, however. He was crying. "I... It's so much..."

"You want me to stop?"

"No... Don't stop, please..."

"Honey..." Louis leaned down again, his chest pressing against Owen's. He left a kiss on the lumberjack's hands, hoping to see his face again. "Do you not enjoy it...?"

"I do... It's just- I- I just- I can't- I don't- I'm not... Not used to this... But it feels so good, and I just..." His voice broke. "I'm sorry..."

"Oh, baby..." Louis carefully pulled Owen's hands away from his face. He was so cute, even with his eyes red and puffy from crying. At least it wasn't a cry of pain, or misery... He was crying out of the pure happiness and bliss that he was feeling, for one of the first times in his whole life. "I love you so, so much..."

"You... You do...?" Owen whispered as the words finally sunk in.

Louis barely held back laughter. 

"I do... I love you so, so much, you have no idea... No matter if you're crying, or sleeping, or stuffing your cute face... I love you so much, sweetheart..."

"I..." His voice shook. He had to finally say it... Even if he was a sobbing mess. He had to let it out, or else, he might just explode. "I love you too... I love you so much it hurts..."

The mayor giggled, beginning to stroke his cheek.

"I don't think it's a good thing... I don't want you to hurt."

"It's fine... If this is how I hurt... Then I'll take that." Owen finally cracked a soft, loving smile. Louis sighed with relief and pressed his cheek against his chest. "Louis...?"

"Yes...?"

"What if we were... More than just friends...?"

The vampire couldn't stop a smile that appeared on his face. In his head, he already saw Owen as his most beloved person, his mate, his partner, his sweetest prince... And only now it occurred to him that neither of them ever stated that officially. But since Owen worked up the courage to ask that...

"What do you want us to be...?"

"I- I, um... I don't know, like... Like, partners...? If- If you want to, that is..." 

"Hmmm... I think I do," Louis whispered with a teasing smile, his chin resting on Owen's chest. Immediately, his eyes got even bigger and brighter.

"You do...?"

"Sure... I guess we can be that." Louis pressed one more kiss on Owen's lips. "But get ready for me to get even more lovey-dovey..."

"Oh, the horror..." Owen giggled. 

He sighed with relief when Louis pressed his own body against him, his breathing slowing down as both of them slumped into this comfortable, half-asleep state. His scarred hand landed in his partner's hair, stroking it with gentle, slightly clumsy movement. This is exactly what he wanted all his life... A person to share everything with. All his dreams, wonders, pain and happiness... And he found just that, where he would never expect it. He remained awake for a while longer, watching as Louis drifted off. Then, soon, he followed right after him, falling asleep with a peaceful smile on his face.

Chapter 8: Sounds of music

Summary:

Owen discovers Louis' biggest passion, and the two of them bond over it.

Notes:

Funfact! This originated as two separate ideas for two separate chapters, but they were small enough that I decided to join them into one. And I think they did blend in quite nicely :3

Also, this fic is at 2k hits??? And 80 subscibers???? Hello hi but also what????? It's literally me being very self indulgent about Lovebitten TwT

It was a late, chilly afternoon in Oakhurst. The streets were still busy with people, loud with sounds of chatter and arguing. However, close to the centre of the town, music poured out of the open windows of one of the houses. A simple, calm, piano melody, awaking the feeling of warm fall nights and mysteries of the nearby forests. Not many people paid any mind to the music, too busy keeping their heads down and getting through the day. The sound did, however, reach someone. 

A young vampire, napping on the sofa in his partner's house. At first, he slept through the music, letting it influence his dream and put it in an even more comfortable spot. Eventually, however, he did wake up. His vision was slightly blurry from sleepiness, and his hazed mind made him hum along with the rhythm. Only after a while, did he finally recognize what was happening. His beloved man was sitting on the opposite side of the living room, with his back to Owen. His hands danced around the keys of an old piano, bringing the beautiful sounds to reality. 

Louis himself was completely silent, focused on his music and nothing else in the world. Especially in the recent months, he rarely ever had time to indulge in his favorite hobbies. This day, however, the temptation was too strong. He pondered moving Owen to the bedroom, to not wake him up... On the other hand, the fledgling slept like a rock most of the time. And since the first few minutes of playing did not cause him to react in any way, Louis continued playing. He always loved music, ever since he was a little child. It only took him until he moved into the castle north from Oakhurst to finally begin learning, and pursue his passion... So once he left and became the mayor, one of the first things he did was get himself his own piano. There were times, especially before he met Owen, when he would sit down every day and unwind this way. Music always brought him peace of mind and soothed his soul, even when he was at his lowest and most broken. And now, he couldn't stop thinking of the possibility of sharing that passion with his beloved partner...

And, just as this thought reappeared in his head, someone hugged him from behind with a soft yawn.

"Lou..." Owen muttered.

"Good evening to you too, sweetie..." The vampire pulled his hands away from the keyboard and put them on Owen's face. "How are you feeling?"

"Good..." The yawning repeated. "Didn't know you can play the piano..."

The mayor snickered. 

"Why else would I have a piano in my house?"

"I thought it was just decorative... You know... Rich guy things, and all..."

Louis smirked, then stood up from his chair and gave Owen a soft kiss. Immediately, his face lit up with excitement. 

"You're so good at this..." He hummed. "Am I interrupting you...?"

"No, not really... But I can continue, if you're enjoying it..."

Immediately, the lumberjack grabbed the closest chair and pulled it close to the piano, ready to listen to his partner play. He looked absolutely gorgeous when he was this focused on his music... His soft features tensed a little bit, his dark, reddish eyes getting even deeper and more mysterious. Owen enjoyed watching as his fingers danced around the keys, knowing exactly which keys to press to make everything work together in perfect harmony. It was almost like magic to him... How long has Louis been learning, to get to his point? Owen leaned against the piano, continuing to watch him, his eyes half-lidded. The melody was so peaceful, so heartwarming... It was like a lullaby, like a love song, like a confession and a daydream. No wonder his dreams were particularly pleasant that day... If he only could, he would just stay like this forever, listening to Louis play. His eyes slowly closed on their own. His head slowly dropped down, as his sleepiness returned, ready to take him into his warm embrace-

And then, Owen slipped and hit his head against the keys. Immediately, a loud, low sound of several keys erupted from the piano, making him jump away like a terrified cat.

"Shit!-" He hissed, almost falling off the chair. His face covered in blush in an instant, especially when he heard Louis begin to laugh. "Hey, don't laugh at me! I-" The fledgling sighed. "I'm sorry..."

"It's fine, sweetie... Are you okay?"

"I'm fine... But I don't have musical talent, it seems" He snickered. "I used to sing during work, sometimes... When I still had the strength to work..."

"You can sing?" Louis turned to him. His hands continued to play, apparently he didn't even need to look to know exactly what he was doing.

"I didn't say I can... I just did." Owen chuckled and leaned against the piano once more, but this time in a more stable position. "I can't really guess by myself, and- And I never had an audience, so..."

"Can you sing something? Please, I wanna hear it..."

"I..." Owen immediately went silent, his body language becoming withdrawn and timid. Sure, that was something he enjoyed, but at the same time, he was a bit too embarrassed to actually show off. Even to Louis... He probably wouldn't judge him, and would be supportive of him. And yet... The idea of actually singing to his beloved made him want to never open his mouth again. Even if his heart broke as Louis' smile faded.

"Oh, I'm sorry, dearest... You don't have to do that right now, it's okay." The mayor whispered and took Owen's hands in his own. "But if you ever feel comfortable enough to do it... Don't hold back. Okay?" He turned back to the piano. "Maybe you wanna play with me?"

"Huh? But I-" Owen chuckled "I can't play..."

"It's fine! Look, all you have to do is press here, and then here, and here..." Louis gently guided his fingers to the keys, showing him exactly what to do. "And I'll do the rest. Okay?"

"Uh... Sure."

The melody changed a little bit. The fledgling carefully repeated the melody that Louis showed him, while his sire played all the accompanying notes. Owen was in awe of how well that worked, even despite his lack of experience. He was creating something... Something beautiful. Even if his partner was doing most of the work, he still enjoyed playing (quite literally) his part.

"See? You're a natural!" Louis smirked. 

His hand landed on Owen's, and he guided him to a slightly more complicated part of the melody. At first, the lumberjack gasped and tensed a little, afraid he's going to ruin it... But Louis knew exactly what he was doing. Soon, Owen relaxed once more, and began humming, then even vocalizing the melody. There were no words, just his voice vibrating in the air. It was the most beautiful sound Louis had ever heard... It was soft, and slightly higher than Owen's usual tone. And he was clearly enjoying himself... 

The melody looped a couple of times, and eventually Owen pulled his hand away. A slight, pink blush on his face betrayed just how much he enjoyed this intimate experience. He then took Louis' music sheets and began looking through them, making a focused expression. As if he was pretending that he could actually read the notes. Of course, he couldn't, he never had a chance to learn.

"It's like magic..." He vocalized his earlier thoughts. 

"It kinda is..." Louis agreed. Then, his eyes lit up with excitement. "But I can show you something even more magical..."

"What is it?"

The mayor got up from his chair, then approached a bookshelf by the wall. There was a strange device standing there that Owen saw already, but never knew what it actually was. It was like a large, wooden box, with a brass horn poking out of it. Louis pulled out a thin, black disc from a slim box next to the device, then put it on and pressed some buttons. Immediately, the room filled with music. And it was no longer just piano - he also heard the violin, trumpet, drums and even instruments he's never heard before. And Louis didn't even have to do anything to make the music play... Owen's eyes lit up with excitement, his body immediately beginning to rock from side to side at the pretty sound.

"Woah... What is this...?"

"It's a gramophone, dear... It plays music on these discs called records," The elder vampire explained. "It's a pretty recent invention, so I don't blame you for not knowing about it. But yeah, it's basically magic!"

Owen watched the record spin, his brown eyes big with wonder. His body swayed to the music, his fingers tapping the rhythm on the side of the piano. That was truly the most magical thing he had ever seen... The music permeated through his body, warming it up and making it feel light and dreamy. He almost didn't notice when Louis approached him and reached out his hand, inviting his fledgling.

"How about we share a dance?" He asked with a sly smirk. He could tell Owen loved this, and he was on the edge of his seat already... Maybe he could do Louis this one favor, and dance with him?

"Dance...?" The fledgling chuckled nervously. "Are you sure? I- I can't really dance..."

"That's fine... It's not something you can or can't do. It's just something you do!" That being said, Louis grabbed Owen by the hands and pulled him up from the chair, then straight into a spin. Owen let out a whimper, which quickly turned into laughter.

"Louis!"

"You'll be fine!"

"I told you I don't know how to do this!"

"You're gonna be okay! I've gotchu!"

Louis led the dance, and Owen followed right behind. His hand landed on his sire's shoulder, while his warm fingers grazed his fledgling's side. They spun around the living room, avoiding all furniture and staring in each other's eyes. They both radiated warmth, love and thrill at this incredibly intimate, yet playful and fun activity. Even when Owen made some sort of mistake, Louis just responded with a chuckle and spun him around once more. Owen's laughter filled the room as once he clung to his partner, once he almost let go of him. Even when the song changed, the two of them adjusted their moves and never stopped dancing. They let their long hair loose. Their fingers intertwined. As the afternoon turned into evening, and then into night, the two of them barely ever stopped, only ever so that Louis could change the record. And right after he did, they were already back in their little self-inflicted trance, their mutual display of affection, their wordless sign of love and devotion. If only they could go like this for the rest of time...

Eventually, Louis was the first one who got out of breath and had to take a break. He slumped on the sofa, watching with a gleeful grin as Owen continued dancing on his own. Even if he never had a chance to really do it by himself, he was natural at it. He moved with so much grace and energy... The fledgling kept his eyes closed, every now and then beginning to hum, or even sing along with the lines he picked up. And he looked so incredibly, impossibly happy... As if this is what he was always meant to do, right then and there. Louis turned on his side, watching his lover dance as his own eyelids got heavy with exhaustion. He worked long hours that day, and gave up most of his dinner to Owen... But it was worth it, to see his bright, cheerful smile.

When the music stopped once more, Louis mentally braced himself for having to get up and change the record. To his surprise, the fledgling immediately approached the bookshelf and started doing that by himself. He probably picked up on what to do when he watched his partner change the records... But before he placed a new one on the turnable, he looked back at Louis.

"Can I go on? Or do you want to sleep?"

"You can go on, dearest... I'd love to watch you." The mayor whispered, his voice deep with sleepiness. 

Soon, the music began playing anew, and he smiled when his lover got immersed in it once more. So precious, so delicate and strong at the same time... He already knew he would do anything for him, but that display only reinforced his belief in that. With time, Louis finally fell asleep, a big grin still present on his face. 

It was late, late in the night where Owen finally decided to call it for the day. He was exhausted and his muscles tingled with strain, but he never felt this good before. And a nap after such a workout would be legendary... He snuck on the couch, wrapping his arms around Louis and pressing his face into the elder vampire's silver hair.

"I love you..." He whispered, before following him into sleep.

Notes:

Another funfact! While writing the piano scene, I listened to this on repeat. Now, whenever you listen to this track, imagine it's Louis playing the piano, optionally with Owen. You're welcome :>

Chapter 9: All the warmth we share

Summary:

Louis plans a special cosy evening for himself and Owen. It doesn't go exactly to plan, but they still enjoy each other's company.

Notes:

I know that the next chapter of my big Vampires fic is coming out in about an hour..... But after yesterday's episode, I needed to cope by writing some fluff. Because. What the actual fuck. As the self-appointed ao3 Lovebitten CEO, I have so much work to do to fix it and bring fluff to this fandom..... /silly

The last few days were quite draining for Louis. His work was quite demanding as it was, but dealing with all the trade deals and people who just moved in was always tiring - and whenever he got back home, he needed to tend to Owen. His partner could take care of himself just fine, sure, but caring for him was always a highlight of the mayor's day - no matter how tired he was. This evening, he decided to do something special for both of them. While Owen was in the bathroom, washing himself, he prepared a safe little nest in their bed, lined it with pillows and blankets, and prepared two two glasses of delicious wine for both of them. Then, he stood in front of his bookshelf, trying to pick out a book for each of them to read. It's been a while since he could just lay in bed with a good book and not worry about anything. It was always a special moment, and to share it with someone he loved so dearly... There's nothing he wanted to experience more than that.

The mayor smirked when he felt something warm and wet tackle him from behind into a hug. As Owen's hands wrapped around his waist, he took them and kissed them gently.

"Enjoyed your bath, sweetheart?" He asked with a soft, slightly tired smile.

"Mhm..." Owen pushed his nose against Louis' spine, making him giggle. "I wish I could've stayed in there forever..."

"Well, nothing's stopping you..."

"But you weren't there," The lumberjack grumbled. "And I missed you..." 

Louis let out a soft laugh and turned around to his partner. He looked so adorable with his long hair all wet and slumped... And his eyes, bright and full of energy. Not to mention, with only a towel draped over his shoulders, leaving his chest bare, for his lover to see... Immediately, Louis' hands landed on his hips and he pulled him a little closer.

"You're gorgeous, dearest..." He whispered. "Each day, you get even more beautiful... I didn't even know you could surpass how you looked yesterday at dinner, but here you are..."

"Yeah, with blood smeared all over my face?" Owen snickered. "You didn't teach me to properly feed for a reason, huh? You enjoy watching me struggle and get my hands dirty?"

"Me? Never..." Louis grinned, before pulling Owen into a soft kiss. He then turned back to the bookshelf "Any book caught your attention, sweetheart?"

Owen turned to the bookshelf. The books there caught his attention in the past, although he usually just resorted to counting them in various ways. He even tried opening some of them - but he never got further than the first few pages. He knew how to read, but he never had a chance to get proficient at it. Just enough to get by, and not much more. Louis, on the other hand, could probably do that really well... The lumberjack's pointy ears perked down a little. It would be so embarrassing to admit that he could barely do what came easy to Louis... Eventually, without thinking much, he pulled out the first book that grabbed his attention.

"Oh, I just got this one a while ago! Sense and sensibility... I haven't gotten around to it yet, but you'll probably enjoy it." This time, Louis wrapped his arms around Owen's waist. He surely enjoyed how his features softened in the recent months, and how he got so much warmer and cuddlier... "This author is great, I should probably pick up something from her too..."

"Yeah, yeah, sure..." Owen chuckled nervously, before flipping through the pages. So many words... And some of them really didn't sound familiar to him. He got a tight feeling in his stomach, thinking of how Louis might react when he finds out...

Once Louis picked out a book for himself, then led Owen back to the bedroom. Soon, both of them settled in bed, covered in warm blankets and enjoying the moonlight seeping through the windows. Even in the dark, they could easily see the words on the pages, thanks to their eyes adapting to the darkness. Owen put his head on Louis' chest, letting him wrap his warm, lean arms around his body. He began flipping through his book once more, eventually resorting to just counting the pages. Quite a strange behavior he picked up since becoming a vampire - counting calmed him down surprisingly easily. He just focused on trying not to lose count, and all of his other thoughts suddenly went quiet. It helped him especially during his time dealing with a withdrawal from garlic. That was an especially dark time for him, filled with so much darkness, hunger and pain... And Louis never left him through it, somehow. He was right there, making sure that-

"Owen?"

The lumberjack perked up his head and turned to Louis.

"Hm?"

"Sorry, I just... I noticed you weren't reading. Are you alright...?"

"Yeah, I'm fine, I just..." 

Owen went back to the beginning of the book, struggling to focus on the words. It took him too long to decipher the first few words... Getting through the whole book would take him eternity. Not that he lacked time now, as a vampire...

Louis put his nose in Owen's moist hair, enjoying his sweet scent. Truth be told, he could barely focus on his book - all of his attention went to the fledgling in his arms. He couldn't get over just how incredible he looked. So healthy, so full of life... He gained just the right amounts of softness, so that hugging him felt heavenly. The warmth his body emitted was better than the softest, warmest blanket Louis had. His hands felt incredibly gentle, but strong at the same time. Considering his work as a lumberjack, he was likely much stronger than his partner, but hasn't had a chance to flex his muscles just yet. His scars partially healed over, and while they would never be truly gone, they gave Owen's body so much more texture and history... Louis pulled his finger over a particularly prominent mark on his lover's back, which caused him to shudder.

"You're also not reading, huh?" Owen chuckled. He was almost done with the first paragraph.

"I'm sorry you're so distracting..." The mayor giggled and left a soft kiss on the top of Owen's head. "I can't get enough of you, dearest..."

"Hey, there's nothing special about me..." Owen propped himself up on his elbows and turned to Louis. That playful, cheeky spark in his eye... The mayor barely resisted grabbing his cheeks and covering his face with kisses. He was asking for it at this point. "I'm just like a scruffy rat you pulled out of the sewer and into your bed."

"You're so much more than just a scruffy rat... You're my scruffy rat." The elder vampire whispered straight into his ear, his fangs nibbling on Owen's earlobe. The lumberjack let out a soft whimper, the gesture leaving him weak. "Although, you are a bit like a rat... Rats are very intelligent. And so are you."

"I'm- I'm not..." Owen muttered, slumping on Louis' chest once more. His chest began hurting as he weighed his words. Then, finally, he spoke up again "I... I can't even really read well."

"You can't read...?" Louis' smile faded. 

"I can read a little... Just enough to get by. But... But this?" Owen chuckled nervously, tapping the cover of the book. "It would probably take me years to finish..."

"Oh, honey, I'm so sorry... I had no idea..." Louis pulled him closer. Something itched in his heart. Did he make Owen uncomfortable by making him read? He just wanted to share this perfect idea for a night together, but didn't take into account that his partner came from such a different background to him. And the fact he didn't even want to say it at first...

"No, no no no, it's fine! You wanted good..." Owen got up, then sat on Louis' hips and leaned over him, his hands ending up on his partner's chest. "I appreciate it, really... And I'm having fun with you..."

"You are...?"

"Yes!" Owen smiled. "And if you want to keep reading, and you don't mind me just... You know, laying next to you..."

"Don't you want to do something else? We can do something else, if you want to..." Louis looked up at him, struggling to put on a smile. The worry in his eyes... Owen couldn't recall the last time he had seen him this worried. But it wasn't a big deal, was it? Why was he so afraid...?

"Louis..." Owen pressed his chin against his lover's chest. "What's wrong...?"

The mayor sighed and put his own book aside. He so didn't want his partner to see his worries, his weaknesses... And now, he unfolded right in front of him. He probably looked so stupid, and embarrassing... And yet, the love and care in Owen's eyes never faltered.

"I just... I wanted to make you happy..." Louis whispered. "I love spending evenings like this, but... But if you don't enjoy it, we can do something else, I promise-"

"Louis." Owen put his hands on his cheeks, making the mayor look at him. "I love spending time with you, no matter what we do... And your comfort is just as important as mine, you know? We can just... Do things that we enjoy, together. Even if it's not the same thing. Okay?"

Louis quickly wiped his eyes, to hide any possible traces of tears.

"Of course... Of course." He whispered, putting his hands on Owen's. "You're wonderful..."

"I'm just doing the same thing you're doing for me." The fledgling whispered, pressing his cheek against Louis' hands. "If you wanna keep reading, you can just give me... I dunno, a bowl of rice to count, or something."

Immediately, the elder vampire began giggling. Oh, so he was one of those vampires, huh? A few of his fledglings in the past developed this affinity for counting things. He never really understood it, as he never felt like it affected him. His own sire never really did that as well. But it was always so endearing to see... He should've picked up on the signs, to be frank...

And then, an idea hit him.

"Owen?"

"Yes?"

"You can write, right?"

"Kinda, yeah... Why...?"

"I'll be right back." Louis crawled out from under Owen, then left the bedroom.

"Noooo..." The young vampire whimpered, reaching out after him. He could stop being lazy and just go after him, but the nest was just too damn soft and comfy... And he was feeling so good after eating dinner and taking a bath... No, getting out of bed at this moment would be a crime. Maybe if he drank one less bottle of blood, it would be easier... Instead, he just curled up and pulled a blanket over himself, waiting for Louis to return to him. 

"At this point, I'm never going back to work, huh...?" He muttered to himself, turning on his back and putting one hand on his chest. Why would he roam around the forest, cutting down trees and getting his hands dirty, if he could just stay in Louis' safe, warm house? He got all he needed here. Warmth, food, and a loving man who adored him... And sooner or later, another lumberjack would come to pick up his work. It wouldn't matter to the townsfolk if it was Owen or not, did it...? He could just stay like this forever, and he wouldn't mind...

Eventually, Louis returned with a small booklet in his hand, which he immediately handed to Owen. The fledgling immediately began flipping through it. There were no words on the pages - instead, each page was covered with a square grid, and numbers written into some of them. They immediately caught his attention, his pupils widening as if he was a curious cat.

"What is it...?"

"It's a magic square puzzle," Louis explained. "They've been adding it to the newspaper lately... Here, let me show you how to solve it. I think you might like it..."

The two of them sat on the bed, the mayor patiently explaining the puzzle to Owen. The fledgling seemed completely engulfed in the idea, and the second he was handed a pencil, he grabbed the booklet and began solving the first grid. He slumped against Louis' chest, his eyes glued to the page. The mayor giggled, gently scratching Owen's scalp.

"If you solve one, you're getting a kiss," He promised, before grabbing his own book again. Owen laid down more comfortably, his weight comfortingly pressing on his lover. He grinned when he felt Louis wrap his arm around his lover and pinch his side gently, gripping it in a comforting manner.

"Enjoying yourself, hm?" Owen hummed, his eyes still glued to the page.

"Very much so... I loooove how warm you've been getting, sweetheart... All the blood and tasty meat going into all the right places..."

"Mhm..." The lumberjack giggled, pushing himself a little into Louis to share more warmth. Just a few minutes later, he exclaimed "I'm finished!"

"Already?" Louis raised an eyebrow and looked down at the puzzle. Indeed, it seemed solved, with each grid filled with numbers that didn't cross one another against the rules... "Huh... Impressive. I tried these once, but it took me an hour to finish one... I didn't know you were good with maths."

"I don't! I just... I understood it, I guess. Can I get my kiss now?"

"You certainly can..." The mayor smirked, before leaning forward and giving his partner a loving kiss on the lips. "Mmmm... You taste bloody."

"I wonder why..." Owen grinned, playfully licking his lips. For that little stunt, he gained another kiss from his lover. When Louis reached out for his glass of wine, he also reached out his hands to be given his own glass. "Gimme, gimme..."

"Alright, you got it..." The mayor fulfilled his wish, and couldn't stop himself from laughing when Owen finished the whole glass at once. "Owen!"

"What? Blegh, so sweet..." Owen giggled and put his head down on Louis' abdomen. "I'm used to more bitter things..."

"I thought you never drank alcohol before living with me...?"

"I did! Rarely, but... Well, unless you don't count vodka, or such. Not as fancy as your wine and all, but... Still tasty..." He hummed, his smile loosening just as his tongue did. "And... Helped when the pain got really bad..."

"You're impossible..." Louis sighed and gave him one more kiss, before slumping back into bed. He was feeling a lot more tired than he expected... Suddenly, reading felt like a tiring, daunting task. But laying here, with Owen... That sounded a lot better. He pulled him a little closer, watching him focus on his puzzle, before drifting off to sleep.

---

When Louis woke up in the morning, the first thing he saw was Owen's face, hovering right over his own. His big, goofy grin immediately made Louis smile in return.

"Good morning, sweetie..."

"I think you owe me a few kisses..." He said, waving the booklet in front of Louis' face. The mayor giggled again.

"Oh really? Lemme see..."

The elder vampire took a glance at the booklet. Throughout the night, Owen solved half of it, and Louis couldn't spot any mistakes he made. To say he was impressed would be an understatement. His eyes darted between the puzzle and Owen's face, as the fledgling waited for his prize.

"Did you sleep at all tonight?" The mayor chuckled.

"No! It was too much fun to stop..."

"I guess I gotta get you more things like that, huh?" Louis smirked, pulling himself up into a sitting position. "Well, color me impressed... Come here, dearest..." He grinned, before dragging Owen closer to himself and beginning to kiss him all over his face. The young vampire started laughing and wriggling, immensely enjoying the attention and soft love his partner showered him with. Soon, he ended up with his back on the mattress, and his lover hovering over him, covering his body in kisses. "Enjoying yourself? Or do you want me to stop?"

"No, no! Don't stop!"

"Alright then..." Louis smirked, before his lips landed on his skin again. The pleased laughter filled his ears, especially once his teeth began scraping against Owen's skin. This euphoria on his face and in his voice... It was worth more than anything in the world. Oakhurst could wait a little.

Chapter 10: First flight

Summary:

Owen finally decides to try out his vampiric abilities.

That evening, Owen took the washing duty on himself. Vampires or not, he and Louis had manners - and that required them to not live with filth. He was glad to wash the dishes and dispose of the leftover bones and hide, if that allowed his partner to rest a little.

In recent days, Louis began acting a bit... Off. At least compared to what Owen usually knew him as. He seemed a bit more distant than usual. His eyes and body language betrayed that he wasn't really there, even when he talked to his lover, even when they cuddled. And the way he stared off into the distance, as if trying to remember something... Owen did whatever he could do help - allowed him to take his time and rest, while he took care of whatever he could. Maybe he was just overworked... If so, Owen would give him all the grace and understanding he could.

Just as he finished putting the clean plates away, he felt something small land on his head, flapping its leathery wings.

"You finished?" He heard the voice of Louis - at least that voice was the closest. It was a bit higher-pitched, and squeaky. Owen perked his head up, and something pulled on his hair. "I'm up here!"

"Louis?"

"Hi!" A small, fluffy shape hung down from his head, its eyes meeting Owen's. The vampire couldn't hold back laughter. He couldn't recall the last time he's seen his beloved in the form of a bat. Immediately, he grabbed him and untangled him from his hair. "Hey, careful! I'm fragile like this!"

His bat disguise was small, a bit smaller than one would've expected from someone of his height. His thick, soft fur was the color of redwood, with strokes of white on his chest and head. Lighter speckles marked his wings. His eyes were dark, but also curious and understanding, betraying his true nature. A pair of tiny white fangs poked out of his brown, wrinkled muzzle. What an endearing sight it was... Owen couldn't resist giving him a little smooch on the head.

"For once, you're smaller than me..." Owen smirked.

"Don't get used to it, boy!" Louis grinned, which looked especially silly in this form. "Don't you think it's about time I get to see your bat form, too?"

"You think I can do that...?"

"Of course you can! You're not just a pup anymore, right? You can see in the dark, you can..." Louis paused, as the realization dawned upon him. He's been slacking at teaching Owen how to use his vampiric abilities, hasn't he? He figured out how to feed on his own, but he hasn't transformed once just yet. Not to mention using hypnotism, or turning invisible, or actually using his increased strength and stamina... A shiver crossed his small spine, before he added "You can do all the other things too, I'm sure! You just have to try!"

"Well, if you say so..." Owen set his lover down on the table. Louis took a comfortable position, hiding how his claws started shaking. "But... How do I do this?"

"It's simple! You just think of how your bat form looks, and- Oh. Right. You don't know how your bat form looks..." The mayor chuckled nervously. "Sorry, it's just... It's been a while since I taught someone to do this..."

"It's fine! I'll figure it out!" Owen chuckled, determined to make Louis proud. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "Okay, think. Bats, bats, bats... Small, brown, fluffy... With wings, and big ears, and... And fangs, I guess..."

"You can do it, sweetheart!" Louis took off and began flying around Owen's head, his wings flapping loudly, distracting the fledgling. The lumberjack winced and pulled his head away.

"Louis, don't!" He pleaded, the fast moving air making his nose itchy. "I can do this! I just need to... To..."

The rest of his words turned into a loud sneeze. Immediately, in a cloud of thin smoke, he transformed straight into his bat form. Surprised by the sudden change, he didn't know how to react, and would've fallen to the ground if it wasn't for Louis' fast reflexes. He immediately turned back into a human and caught Owen before he could crash to the ground. The bat let out a surprised squeal, before he regained his voice:

"Did I do it?"

"You did!"

Owen's bat was a bit bigger than Louis', despite his shorter statue, and stouter. His fur was quite long, curly, tattered and missing in places where his scars were especially prominent. The bat's wings were also larger, pristine, not touched by any signs of damage, aside from the slightly marbled nature of the membrane. His big, brown eyes stared up at Louis with curiosity.

"Awww... You're so cuuute!" The mayor whimpered, gently squishing the bat's cheeks. "So squishy... So soft..."

"I feel... Small." Owen admitted, his voice squeaky. "But... It's nice. Just don't crush me, please...?"

"I'm so tempted to just bite you..." Louis giggled, his fangs opening, which was met with Owen's scared screech. "It's fine! I won't bite you... Yet."

The bat was let loose on the table, allowing him to explore this new form. It certainly felt weird. He couldn't exactly keep himself up on his hind legs, but when supporting himself with wings, he dragged the membranes around. Everything was suddenly so much larger than him, which made Owen feel small, scared and isolated... Until Louis landed right next to him, a bat as well. Immediately, he clung to Owen and began licking the fur on his head.

"No fair... You're larger than me..." He muttered, but his affection for his partner betrayed that he didn't really mind. "You're so adorable... And majestic..."

"Majestic?" Owen snickered. He stopped roaming the table, to let Louis clean him. "I think I still look like a rat..."

"A flying rat!"

"Fair enough..." The lumberjack sighed. "I... I like it, though. Cuddling like this will feel great..."

"We can try that! But first..." Louis' teeth grabbed his wing and pulled it up. "We gotta take these for a test flight, huh?"

"You think I can do it...?"

"Of course! It's easy, you just gotta flap them to get up! Like this!" 

Louis let go of Owen and picked off easily. The lumberjack watched him for a second, bracing himself... And then, he jumped off the table. He barely managed to stabilize his flight before hitting the floor. A huff left his snout, as he realized that staying in air was harder than he expected.

"That's it, that's it! You're doing great!" Louis cheered, circling around his partner.

"I thought it'd be a bit easier..." Owen admitted, already out of breath.

"You'll get used to it! It's always hard at first, because you're not used to it... It will get easier with time, I promise."

"I trust you..." Owen chuckled, then flew closer to the window. "So? Wanna go for a fly...?"

"Yes!"

Louis squeezed through the tight space between the open window and the wall. Owen followed right after, but with his slightly larger form, he struggled a little bit - to Louis' enjoyment and squeaky giggles. Soon enough, the cold evening air hit his fur, almost making him gasp. It was slightly windy and chilly, and yet... He never felt this amazing, in all of his life.

"Come on, come on!" Louis called out to him, before taking off and flying towards the night.

Oakhurst was not a particularly big town, but from so up high, it looked tiny. The houses looked like just wooden blocks, with droplets of light seeping from inside out. The roads were but thin trails, people roaming them no bigger than ants. All of a sudden, everything Owen has ever seen, everyone he's even known - not much bigger than his hand. Or paw. And it felt... Strange. But, at the same time, liberating. Up here, no one could hurt him, no one could yell at him, make him feel scared. He was in power here. His beady eyes darted up. In contrast to tiny Oakhurst under him, the sky was huge, vast, endless, with millions of stars watching over him. And over all of them, the full moon, basking them in its light. Owen let out a happy squeal, trying to fly as high up as he could, hoping to touch the moon.

"And? How does it feel?" Louis asked with a big, bright smile.

"This is the best thing ever..." The lumberjack gasped, looking down at his partner. "Can I just stay like this forever...?"

"I don't think it's safe, dearest... I've heard of vampires who stayed as bats for months, or years, only to find themselves trapped..."

"Oh... Oh."

"You just gotta be mindful, okay?" The mayor dashed around him, still unable to get enough of his adorable new form. "But I won't mind seeing you like this often... I can brush your fur, tickle you, squeeze you, whatever you need!"

"That sounds... That sounds amazing..."

For a moment, the lumberjack closed his wings, letting himself fall through the sky. This incredible, freeing feeling that he hoped would never end... Finally, he was no longer tethered to the ground, no longer in pain, no longer struggling. He was free. He was exactly what he was meant to be this whole time, and with just the right person, now nosediving close to him.

"You like it?" Louis asked loudly, speaking over the whistling wind. In response, Owen let out one, excited cry, before picking up flight again. The two bats danced around the night sky, their wings grazing against one another. Their squeaks no longer reached the townsfolk down low, but neither of them cared. 

They were right where they needed to be.

---

"So? Enjoyed your first flight, honey?" Louis asked, as soon as the two bats flew back inside, then landed on the bed. Owen dropped on the mattress with a relieved sigh, hiding his muzzle under his wing.

"That was... A lot..." He huffed, although his smile never faded. "I needed this... After months of you spoiling me..."

"You looked gorgeous up there, dearest..." The mayor immediately began licking his fur, cleaning it thoroughly. "You just have... The cutest little muzzle... The sweetest face... And the nicest fur I've ever touched..."

"Stoooop..." Owen squealed, curling up, but allowing Louis to continue cleaning him. "Louis...?"

"Yeah?"

"I... I've been trying to figure out my abilities... But it's hard, you know? I don't really know what I can do, how to do it... And, I would really appreciate your help, you know...?" He whispered, turning on his back to allow his partner to lick his tummy.

Louis let out a quiet scowl, then curled up next to him and put his chin on Owen's chest.

"I'm sorry, Owen. I may have gotten a little too... Excited to have you with me for all eternity and beyond. And... And I forgot that your life is more than just being my little cuddly toy." He admitted, a little bit of blush creeping up his tiny cheeks. "I will teach you everything, I promise. And I... And I won't force you to stay here forever. If you want to go outside, you can. If you want to..." His breathing hitched. "If you want to leave, and live on your own, then... Then that's fine, too..."

"Louis!" Owen's head perked up a little, poking up from his stubby body. "I don't want to go anywhere! I want to live here, with you! I mean, sure, I want to have my own freedom sometimes, but... But I love you. And I wanna stay with you. If you want to keep having me here..."

"I do!" Louis smiled, then began licking the tiny scars covering his partner's torso. "I want you to stay! I just... I want you to be happy. And to not feel like I pressure you to do anything... You know?"

"You talk a lot..." Owen teased him, wrapping his wings around Louis' neck. He then pulled the other bat close, then began licking him all over his chest and head. The mayor immediately began purring, his voice a little raspy and a lot louder than one would expect from such a tiny body.

Soon, the two bats curled up among the folds of their bedsheets, snuggled against each other in this little nest of their making. It was a bit too hot for comfort, but as long as they were with each other, they would be fine. Even if they would wake up sweaty and sticky.

"Louis...?" The lumberjack yawned, his pointy ears twitching.

"Yes?"

"I love you..."

The mayor barely stopped a happy little squeal that slipped his snout. He curled up more tightly, hiding under Owen's bigger wing. Soon, both of them slipped into deep, deep sleep, safe and hidden from the world.

Notes:

Btw, if you guys ever want to draw something based on these little things, or write something inspired by it, please do! And send it to me or tag me! I'd love to see it! :3

Chapter 11: Faded reflection

Summary:

Louis sees something he hasn't seen in centuries. Immediately, doubt comes in.

Notes:

First of all, a little trigger warning: this chapter depicts themes of depersonalization, as well as transphobia (although it's mostly alluded to, nothing graphic). If you find that uncomfortable for you, please skip out on this chapter! And I'm sorry if the way I describe these themes is not on par, I tried my best to do research on how to write them so I really hope I didn't offend anyone.

Finally starting the Louis arc....... And just today we got the true Louis baclstory drop, thanks to Luanne TwT I mean I love their take on it but my take goes in a vastly different direction, just so you know! But I'll still go with it because there are some themes I'd like to explore with this guy. I still hope you enjoy it!

"Louis?" The mayor turned towards the bathroom door, when he heard the door crack open, followed by his partner's voice. "How do I look in this shirt? Should I change it to the white one, or is it fine?"

Louis smiled upon seeing his lover try on the new shirts he got for him. He just finished putting on a brand new, brown linen shirt, that perfectly highlighted his most precious features. He also let his hair down, only tying a bit of it into a small ponytail. The mayor barely held back an excited squeal.

"You look wonderful, honey..." He whispered, setting his glass of blood away. His teeth clicked open as he took in the full beauty of his partner "I'm sure you'd look just as good in the white one, though..."

"Maybe...? It's hard to judge by myself, when I can't see my reflection." Owen snickered, turning on his heel to check out how he looked. "A bit annoying, if you ask me..."

"Oh, the horrors of being a vampire, and not being able to see your own cute face in the mirror..." Louis teased, getting up and approaching his partner with a grin.

"Hey, it's not that important to me! Just that, you know... One of the things that you never notice, before they're gone." Owen admitted, putting his head against Louis' chest. "Why is that, even...?"

"Most mirrors are made out of silver, honey. And silver is... Not good for us."

"Right, right... And what if we got a mirror that's not made of silver...?"

"Hmmm... If I ever find one, I'll make sure to get it for us." Louis promised, flicking Owen's nose in a playful gesture. "Are you done sulking over not being able to see your pretty face?"

"I wasn't sulking!"

"Good, good... Come on, I wanted to eat breakfast with you before I go to work."

"I'm coming, I'm coming..." Owen snickered, letting his partner drag him towards the table.

---

A few days later, Louis returned home with something big, rectangular and flat, wrapped in old newspaper. Owen lifted his head from the pillow, previously too occupied with his number puzzles to pay attention to anything.

"Whatcha got there?" He asked.

"A surprise!" Louis snickered. "Wanna see?"

"It's not food, is it?" Owen snickered, sitting up on the couch and setting his booklet aside.

"No, it's not food, silly... Look at this!"

Louis unwrapped the gift, tossing the newspaper on the floor. It turned out to be a mirror - pretty large, rectangular, and... Reflecting Owen's face. The vampire flinched at first, but then leaned closer to take a look. He really did change since becoming a vampire... His skin finally took on a healthier, slightly tanned color. His cheeks were no longer hollow, and his eyebags faded considerably. He never even really took notice of the tiny freckles covering the bridge of his nose and cheeks... Even when retracted, the tips of his fangs poked out of his mouth when he smiled. The brown of his hair and eyes got deeper, brighter, shinier. He let out a quiet giggle.

"Woah..." He whispered. "Okay, I guess I see what you see now," he added, a tinge of pride in his tone.

"Mmm, narcissistic much?" Louis teased.

"I- I'm not!"

"I know, I know... But I agree. You really are a snack, dear..." The mayor admitted, before picking up the mirror. "Now, you wanna help me hang it?"

"Sure... I have a feeling that out of the two of us, I know how to hold a hammer. "Owen smirked, before getting up from the sofa and heading towards the bathroom.

Hanging the mirror over their bathroom sink did not turn out to be a difficult task after all, and soon, they were done. Owen took one more glance, enjoying the reflection more than he wanted to admit. It was all thanks to Louis, of course... He needed to thank him that night, that's for sure.

"I love you so much..." The lumberjack muttered, wrapping his arms around Louis' waist and hugging him. But there was no reaction from the mayor. "Louis...?"

The elder vampire just stood there, in the middle of the bathroom. His eyes were glued to the mirror, to his own reflection. It was the first time he had seen his own face in... What, six hundred years? And the sight took him by surprise, to say the least. 

His face was long, slim, with his skin free of any blemishes and signs of aging. Pristine, soft and a little pale, only a gentle blush covering his cheekbones. His deep, brown eyes with a slight tint of red were full of genuine shock. His silky hair, tinted white, fell upon his face, covering his forehead and eyebrows a little. It was long - Louis always carried his hair long. First out of necessity, then - out of choice. He reached his hand out. It was so dainty and slim, far from the more masculine hands of the men of Oakhurst.

He almost felt as if he wasn't really looking at himself. Rather, a completely different, foreign person was staring at him, their brown eyes lustring him with a blank expression. Was that truly him...? Or was it just someone he pretended to be...?

"Louis? You okay?"

"Huh?- Oh, yeah, right, I was just... Thinking."

"You think too much..." Owen smiled and left a small kiss on his cheek. And yet, in the reflection... He looked like he was kissing someone else. Someone Louis couldn't quite recognize. "How about we go get some snacks, hm? I caught some birds today, while you were away..."

"Huh, that- Yeah, that sounds... That sounds good," The mayor agreed. "Let's go, then."

But he didn't go anywhere. He just stood there, staring back at his reflection. This stranger that mimicked all of his gestures and microexpressions... But it didn't feel like him. Who was it, then...?

Only once Owen grabbed his wrist and pulled on it, did Louis finally turn away and leave the bathroom. His eyes were just as blank and lost, though. Even when he sat at the table and began eating a pigeon Owen caught him, he didn't really seem present. He drank the animal's blood, but couldn't bring himself to eat its meat. His head felt hazy, the image of his reflection still fresh on his mind. 

"Louis, are you alright...?" Owen eventually asked, just as he finished his own pigeons. "Are you tired, or something...?"

"Wha- No, no, I just... Okay, maybe a little," He finally admitted. "I'm just... Yeah, I'm just tired."

"We can hit the bed once you're done eating... It's early, but I'd love to cuddle with you." The lumberjack admitted with a playful smile, which faded at Louis' lackluster reaction. 

"Yeah, yeah... That sounds good."

Louis couldn't even really remember when he ended up in bed, with Owen cuddled up to him, purring loudly. He pulled his numb-feeling hands over his partner's hair, not really feeling its softness and gentle curls. He couldn't even bring himself to look down at the fledgling - he just stared at the ceiling, as if there was another mirror there. He needed to go back, to check if what he saw in the mirror was maybe just an apparition... But he couldn't. Not yet. Owen needed him right now... Maybe later, when he was alone again.

---

In the next days, Louis often returned to the bathroom, just to stare at his reflection. This blank, lost expression seemed permanently stuck on his face - when he was alone, and when Owen was around. He was constantly lost in his thoughts, barely reacting to what was happening. His lover was clearly concerned, and he wanted to put on a facade to calm his worries; he couldn't. He found himself going back in front of the mirror, picking on each part of his face and body, examining it closely.

"Louis...? Why aren't you asleep?"

It was the middle of the night. The mayor was sitting on the bathroom floor, with the mirror put against the wall. He was staring at his reflection, pulling his hands over his slim arms, still in awe at how the stranger in the reflection perfectly repeated all his gestures.

He didn't look like that when he first turned, or before that. There were some similarities, sure. Like his long hair, that his mother used to tie into braids or ponytails when he was a child. Or his tall, lean figure, that the boys back in his old town looked after with lust. The same features that made him feel wrong, lost, unseen for what he truly was. It changed once he met his sire, who saw him for who he was... He helped him achieve the true form of what he was from the start. Even if the people that surrounded him didn't see that all his life.

"Louis? What happened to you?"

It's not that his sire turned him into this. He just helped him feel more comfortable with himself. He became... Himself, thanks to him, even if he was often treated harshly. But in all these centuries, he never got a chance to truly see how he turned out... Did he like it? Did he hate what he became? Was it who he was meant to be, or was he still putting on a facade, even after all these years? Was he actually Louis? Or was the same scared lass he left in the ruins of his old town?-

"Louis!"

The mayor flinched and looked up at his partner. When did he even come? He was standing over him, his eyes wide in worry. His hand landed on the edge of the mirror, tugging on it.

"What's up with you, Louis? You've been acting so strange lately,and I- I'm worried! Just talk to me, please!"

"I..." Louis whispered. "What have I done...?"

"What...?" Owen tensed. "Wait, is this mirror cursed? Is this why you're acting like this? Louis!" His voice broke. He grabbed the mirror, and pulled it out of Louis' hands with not much of a problem. "That's it, I'm getting rid of it. I don't know what sort of curse this is, but- But I'll free you from it!"

The lumberjack gripped the mirror tightly, then dragged it outside of the bathroom. Did Louis accidentally bring a cursed mirror to their house? Was it even possible? Well, if vampires were real, why wouldn't curses be? But how would he even get his hands on one? Did he know? He was too smart to just get tricked into taking it, right?

Louis only regained control over himself once he heard the sound of opening the window. Immediately, he dashed out of the bathroom.

"Owen, wait!"

The fledgling was just finished opening the window, holding the mirror in one hand. Louis' scream caught him off guard, and in surprise, he accidentally dropped it. The reflective surface immediately shattered with a loud glassy bang. The two of them just stood there for a moment, breathing deeply in shock, unable to react to what just happened. After what felt like eternity, Louis walked up to the broken mirror and looked at it once more. The spiderweb of cracks sliced through his reflection, morphing it into something that resembled him even less in his own eyes. Owen carefully avoided the mirror, watching out for any shards that spread around the room, and approached his lover.

"Louis...? Was this mirror cursed...?"

"...no, it wasn't. It was... It was just me."

"Were you cursed?"

"No, I just-" That question actually caught the mayor off guard, and he chuckled. "I don't think curses are real, dear..."

"Well, vampires are real, why not curses?"

"I guess you have a point..." Louis sighed. He attempted to pick up the mirror, but it was now broken into multiple sharp pieces. He slumped against Owen, searching for comfort. "Could you... Could you clean it up, please? I... I need to lay down for a moment."

"Of course." Owen left a soft kiss on his lover's cheek. "Anything for you, honey..."

---

After leading Louis back to bed and cleaning up the shards, Owen returned to their bedroom as quietly as he could. He caught his partner staring out the window, his hands touching his face in the same nervous manner as he did in the past few days. He flinched when the door creaked open, and sighed. This night, he had no strength left to put on a smile.

"I'm sorry I woke you up..." He whispered.

"It's fine..." The lumberjack sat down at the edge of the bed. "So... The mirror wasn't cursed."

"No, I just..." Louis sighed and pulled his hands over his face. "It's a long story..."

"Then say it... I'll listen," Owen offered, sitting cross-legged on the bed.

The mayor smiled gently. Well, the story was long, but there were some details he'd rather omit for the time being... They still hurt, even centuries after. He just wanted to be extra sure nothing bad would come out of it.

"It's about... About who I was as a human," He admitted quietly, playing with the tip of his long, wavy hair. "I lived here, over five hundred years ago. But..." The mayor paused, looking for the right words. "How people saw me, and how I saw myself... It didn't exactly... Align."

"What do you mean...?" Owen tilted his head to the side.

Louis looked into his big, brown eyes. So full of love and understanding... But he didn't feel comfortable talking about that part just yet. Even to someone he cherished and trusted as much as Owen... He needed time to process. A lot of time, probably.

"There was... Something about me that people didn't understand. And, once they found out, I had to run... And, when I did, I- I stumbled into someone who helped me. Who accepted me for who I was, and helped me become more true with myself... And I'll never forget that."

"And what about the mirror...?"

"Well... It's been over half a millenium since I've seen my reflection. And I, well... I have changed a bit since then. I guess I just spooked myself," He explained with a silly, weak smile. "I didn't see what I expected..."

"Did you like what you saw...?"

"I... I'm not sure."

"Well..." Owen moved a bit closer and hugged him. "If that's worth anything, I... I like what I see. And not just that... You're great, Louis. You're so smart, and fun, and so, so kind... I've never met anyone as loving as you..." The fledgling squeezed him tightly. "You're the perfect man in my eyes... You know...?"

The mayor chuckled quietly. That sounded... Nice. Reassuring. Owen would never lie to him. As much as Louis doubted himself, he'd never doubt Owen's honesty. Maybe that's what he needed at this moment... External reassurance, that he would be fine after all.

"Thank you, dear..." Louis pulled him close. "And I'm sorry I scared you..."

"It's fine." Owen took his hand and gently kissed his palm. "I gotchu, you know? I'd never hate you for what you are... You can tell me everything, you know...?"

"I know... I will. One day."

"Then I'll wait."

Finally, the two of them laid comfortably in bed. This time, it was Louis' turn to put his head on Owen's chest and listen to his comfortable breathing. In return, Owen pulled his fingers through his lover's hair and stroked his cheek in a reassuring manner. He did that, until he was absolutely sure that Louis fell asleep - and then a bit longer. His stare was glued to the sky, to thousands of stars hanging over them. There was something Louis wasn't telling him... But he couldn't pressure him into revealing anything. He just had to be patient. One day, he would be able to help Louis, and take this pain away from him - just like Louis took his pain away. But in the meantime... He would do whatever he could to take care of this wound.

Chapter 12: The kindness you extend

Summary:

Louis and Owen bond by baking together. Turns out there was a reason why they did that.

Notes:

So...... Another hiatus from vapris huh?
I will be working on something very very special for Sunday, since it's this fandom's tradition already to make something up when there's an episode missing. So look out for Sunday, you don't want to miss it :3

Louis returned home early that day. He entered the house with a solemn, thoughtful expression, carrying a linen bag. Owen immediately approached his partner and gave him a big, tight hug.

"How are you?" He asked quietly. In recent days, he became more concerned for Louis' comfort and well-being, and asked this question probably more often than it was necessary.

"I'm fine, sweetheart.." Louis gave his lover a kiss on the forehead. "Just a little tired. But I have something fun planned for us today..."

"You sure? You don't want to lie down and rest?"

"I'm sure, honey. I know how to deal with this mood, believe it or not." The mayor finally put on a small smile. "How about we bake something together?"

"Bake?" Owen snickered. "Like what? Bread?"

"I was thinking more about muffins..."

"Hmmm... With you? Always." Owen hummed, squeezing his lover tighter. His eyes darted down to the linen bag. "What'cha got there?"

"All the ingredients we'll need," Louis approached their table and began taking out the contents of the bag. A few eggs, a bag of flour, some sugar, a bottle of milk, a jar of jam. "Could you start a fire in the oven, dear?"

"On it!" 

The fledgling approached their big, clay oven and began putting drywood in there. They were running low, he should head out soon and cut more for them... That was his job after all, right? While placing the wood, he glanced back at Louis. That fateful night, when he found him in the bathroom, pale as a ghost and with empty eyes, was still fresh on his mind. He's never seen his lover so... Lost, and scared. Since their first meeting, he was always so confident, and in control... Was he putting on a mask this whole time? How different was he under it? Was he still the same sweet, kind and caring man Owen grew to love him as? He desperately wanted to believe that he did, but... After that night, doubt began creeping into his mind. And no matter how much he wanted to ignore it, he couldn't quite.

"Wait," he suddenly asked. "Why are we even baking things? We can't really eat normal food, can we?"

"No, we can't," Louis agreed with a giggle, while preparing a big bowl for them to mix all the ingredients. "But it's relaxing..."

"And what do we do with the muffins once they're done baking?"

"You'll see, sweetie, you'll see... I have something in mind."

"Well, I trust you..." Owen chuckled. Once the fire began burning inside their oven, he leaned against it with a soft purr. "It's so warm..."

"Yeah, I'm surprised I don't find you napping on the over more often... You'd look even more like a lazy cat." Louis teased, reaching out to scratch Owen behind his ear. His purring intensified. 

"I didn't want to waste wood to heat it up..." He muttered.

"Oh, sweetie... That's not a waste, if it makes you comfy and happy..." Louis leaned down and kissed his cheek. "It's just wood... I can always go out and buy more."

"Or I can cut it..."

"See, there you go!" The mayor smiled. "Come on, you gotta help me prepare the batter..."

Owen finally glued himself off the oven and joined his lover in the kitchen. Louis put his hands on his fledgling's shoulders, guiding him with his words and his movements. He loved touching the gentle warmth of his partner, taking in his scent, basking in his presence... And each day, he was getting healthier and more stunning. A far cry from when they first met... Louis remembered that day vividly. The first time he saw this young, sickly, quiet lumberjack, walking into his house... Immediately, he was captivated by him. Owen's softspoken voice, his big, gentle eyes, his unmatched beauty and grace... It only took Louis a second to make his judgment - that he would do anything for this man. But he never expected to find a true soulmate in him, someone for life...

"Louis?"

"Yes, sweetheart?"

"How are you feeling?"

The mayor snickered at the question.

"You asked me that already, honey."

"I know, but- I just want to be sure... That you're feeling okay..."

Louis put his chin on the top of Owen's head.

"I'm sorry I worried you so much..." He sighed. "I wish you never had to see me like this..."

"No no, it's fine!- I mean, it's not fine that you felt bad, but..." Owen took a deep breath. "I want to understand what's going on in that head of yours... So that I can help you, like you helped me."

"You don't have to help me..."

"But I want to!" Owen set down the bowl where he was mixing the batter, and turned back to his partner. "I want this to be a two-way relationship, you know? I care about you, and you care about me... And- And I will care about your well-being, whether you like it or not!"

Their eyes met, both so full of undying devotion, care and affection, it made their chests hurt. Like a staring contest, both of them silently standing their ground and trying to convince the other of their love... Until it ended, with Owen's head slumped against Louis' chest.

"I love you..." He whimpered. "I want to help..."

"I know you do..." Louis hugged him tightly. "I... I'll try to tell you when something goes wrong with me, okay?"

"Promise?"

"Promise."

Owen leaned more into the hug, letting Louis envelop him with his lean arms. Immediately, everything felt right and so, so much better. Maybe they had other things to do, muffins to bake... But for just a moment, they could stay like this, completely safe, and not having to worry about anything in the world.

"Can I try some of the jam?" Owen eventually asked, his voice quiet. Louis couldn't help but snicker.

"Honey, we can't eat normal food."

"Can I?" 

"You're gonna get sick, sweetheart..."

But once the mayor was met with his partner's big, pleading eyes, he couldn't say no. Owen knew exactly how well that look of a sad puppy worked on him... That was his most powerful weapon against Louis, much more effective than his claws and fangs. He knew he should just say no... But with a sigh, he grabbed the jar and opened it.

"You can try... But if you get a tummy ache, don't say I didn't warn you."

Immediately, Owen pulled out a teaspoon and put it straight in the jar. The jam smelled delicious, and throughout his life, he could never afford many sweets... However, once he put the teaspoon in his mouth, his expression twisted into that of pure disdain. The delicious, sweet jam felt putrid and ash-flavored when it touched the vampire's tongue. Immediately, he spat the rest of it into their trash bin.

"Crap..." The fledgling whined and leaned against his lover. "Why didn't you stop me?"

"You're gonna drive me insane, sweetheart," Louis giggled and pulled his partner back. "How are you feeling?"

"My stomach hurts..." He grumbled, his peaceful expression turning sour.

"What did I say, huh?" The mayor sighed fondly and gave him a kiss on the cheek, to hopefully help with the pain. "You wanna lay down?"

"No... I wanna keep helping you..." Owen sighed. He sat on the kitchen top, rubbing his sore stomach. "I'm helping, right?"

"You are, honey." Louis giggled and pinched Owen's cheek in a playful manner. He took out the baking tray, then began filling it with batter.

"So... If we can't eat those... What are we gonna do with them?" Owen asked, slumping against the wall.

"I'll show you, honey... But first, we have to bake them. Want to help me put jam in these?"

"Fine, fine, if you insist..."

They ended up putting a teaspoon of jam in each muffin, then covering it with the remaining batter. They already smelled amazing, but after his attempt at eating normal food, Owen was done trying to consume anything else. He just followed Louis' directions and soon, they could put all their baking trays in the oven. The elder vampire glanced at the clock, to take note of the time they had, then dragged his loved one towards the sofa. They had time to spare now, so he could as well spend it paying attention to his beloved... 

"Feeling better now?" He asked once they laid down, Owen curled up in his arms. The fledgling wriggled around a little, like always when he struggled to find a comfortable position. It was always hilarious, especially when accompanied by him whimpering and squealing like a real bat.

"Not really..." He muttered. "Damn it... I spent most of my life eating just potatoes, bread and whatever I found in the forest... And now, I can't eat even that..." Owen looked up at Louis, his eyes pleading. "What is my immortality worth, if I can't even eat sugar...?"

The mayor barely stopped himself from bursting out laughing. He adored it when Owen got dramatic and whiny... Not only because of how adorable he was. If his biggest problem at that moment was that he couldn't eat sweets to his heart content... That meant all of his other problems were suddenly so much more distant, and smaller. Would he complain about such a minor detail, if he was still gravely sick or starving? Probably not... Louis did an amazing job spoiling him, and he couldn't be more proud of himself, seeing just how comfy his beloved man has gotten. He put his hand on Owen's side, stroking it gently.

"Hey, it's not all bad..." He teased. "But, if you really want, we can experiment with different types of meat. See what you enjoy, and all... Seafood is pretty sweet, maybe you'll enjoy it?"

"Well, the ocean is quite a bit away from here..." Owen admitted with a silly grin, his good mood slowly returning. "So it'd probably be pretty expensive..."

"Don't worry about that, honey. I have more than enough to satisfy your cravings," Louis smirked, gently pinching his lover's side. He squealed at the gesture and started laughing.

"Louis!"

"What? I'm just enjoying how amazing you look..." The mayor muttered, pulling him even closer. "And feel..."

"You're literally so obsessed with me..." Owen muttered, although clearly he didn't mind the attention. He stretched on the sofa, occupying as much space as he possibly could.

"Aren't I?" 

The fledgling moved a little closer to his sire, then their lips joined in a soft, gentle kiss. The house was quiet and warm from the oven, no one was disturbing them... It was truly perfect. If it wasn't for the baking muffins, they could stay like this forever, just glued to one another. Owen sighed as his head slumped against Louis' chest. Of course, they couldn't... His lover had a job. So did Owen, technically, but Louis' disappearance would be noticed a lot faster than his own... He couldn't just quit, could he? Then, they could stay like this, and not ever care about anything else in the world... That would be a perfect reality. But it wasn't their reality just yet.

---

The muffins left the oven just before they got burned. Owen really wanted to try one, but his earlier experiences with the jam advised him otherwise. As Louis carefully took the snacks out of the baking tray, he told his partner to get ready to leave soon. It took the fledgling off guard. It would be the first time they would go outside together... Before, Owen only ever sneaked out on his own, like when he ended up acquiring the garlic that was... A bit too potent on him. While getting dressed, the lumberjack made sure to cover his arms, legs and neck as tightly as he could. He no longer wore his bandages of course, because his wounds had already healed - but he still feared the possible reaction of the people of Oakhurst. What if someone spotted him, and recognized that he was no longer sick? What if someone connected the dots? What if Owen's salvation would turn into his doom? And, even worse, what if he endangered Louis with it?-

"You ready to go, hun?"

"Hm?" The fledgling turned around, his worried stare meeting Owen's warm eyes. He gulped and nodded reluctantly. "Y-yeah..." Owen whispered, wrapping his shawl a bit more tightly over his head.

Louis handed him a wooden box, then went on to open the door. The box was warm, the muffins were all inside. So they were going somewhere with them... Maybe to give them to someone? But to whom? Owen took a deep breath, then followed his lover outside.

It was a cold, dark evening. The streets were covered with a thick layer of snow, even after a day of people trekking through it. Owen clutched the box tightly, following right before Louis. His sire was vigilant, focused. Owen wanted to grab his hand, but refrained. He couldn't be sure how it would appear to the people of Oakhurst... They should keep that part of their life a secret for now. Well, truth be told, most of their lives were a big secret at that point.

Most of the passerbys greeted Louis, and he responded in an equally welcoming way. But no one said anything to Owen. The lumberjack kept his head low, clouds of vapor escaping his mouth. It's good, he tried convincing himself, they don't recognize me, so they won't get suspicious... It still stung. He wished they knew him. And not just because he was a sickly outcast, someone to be pointed out and shunned. He was so much more than that... Or at least, he wanted to believe that he was. But would the people of Oakhurst like him for him...? Or would they still see him as a disgusting monster? Especially now, that...

"We're here!" Louis stopped at the doorstep of a pretty large house. 

Owen had definitely seen it before, but he couldn't tell what was so special about it that his lover decided to bring all their freshly baked goods here. Maybe it was the house of a friend of his? Louis never really talked about his friends, but he definitely had some, right? But did they know about them being...

Soon after the mayor knocked on the door, it opened. Immediately, an elderly couple appeared in the door, surrounded by a group of kids. The children got immediately excited at the sight.

"Mayor Louis!" The kids surrounded him, walking out on the snow without winter coats, some even without shoes. The elder vampire smiled brightly and crouched, to lower himself to their level. The smile that appeared on his face was so big and genuine... Hearing the children's playful chatter filled him with so much delight.

"It's good to see you too, little ones..." He chuckled, picking up one of the youngest kids. The little girl looked like she was maybe four, her stare was glued to Louis. "Me and my friend over here brought you something... But how about you let us come inside first, huh?"

The kids grabbed Louis by his free hand and pulled him inside. Owen stood at the doorstep, a bit too overwhelmed to enter. He expected a lot, but not... This. There were so many children surrounding Louis, and all of them looked different... They definitely weren't the kids of that elderly couple, right? They looked too young, and there were too many of them... Owen began counting them, instinctively, but they moved too fast and he constantly lost count. And only then, it hit him what that place really was.

It was an orphanage...

Immediately, something stung Owen straight in the heart. When he was a child, there was no place like this for him to find himself at. He was still a little kid when his parents died - way too young to survive on his own. For a while, he roamed the streets of Oakhurst, living off whatever people gave him... But no one took him in, due to his condition. The only people that did was a group of lumberjacks, that arrived for work in Oakhurst... They taught him the craft, and everything he needed to know. They were the closest thing he had to a family... But then, a few years later, they also left. They never even said goodbye... And from the age of thirteen, Owen was all on his own. He never had a chance for a normal childhood. Between his illness, losing his family and leaving off scraps... He gripped the box tighter. It was so unfair...

But the second that thought popped into his head, a rancid taste filled his mouth. And this time, it wasn't the jam.

He had it hard throughout his life, sure... But he eventually found his place. He found a man he loved, and a cure for his illness... He was in a good place now. He was safe. And now, he was going to get jealous over a bunch of orphans? Just because he never got a chance of normalcy like they did? Pathetic... There was something else he should do instead. Wouldn't it be better if, instead of sulking over what happened to him, he extended the same kindness to these children that Louis once did to him? And helped make sure no kid would ever have to suffer like he did?

And then, Owen felt someone pull on the edge of his shawl.

"Can you go inside with us, mister...?" 

A little boy asked him, looking up with his big, brown eyes. Immediately, Owen's own eyes got teary. He was maybe six, and he was not even wearing any shoes, just a long shirt and linen pants. The lumberjack smiled warmly, then reached out his hand. He could only hope the boy wouldn't get scared by him... That he wouldn't be like the other kids that made fun of him, shouted after him, called him names.

He didn't. He grabbed Owen's hand and pulled him inside.

"Owen, show them what we got!" Louis asked with a big smile. He was already sitting on the floor of the hall, the children surrounding him and talking over one another to grab his attention. Once Owen opened the box and the sweet smell filled the room, the kids immediately swarmed him. The lumberjack started giggling, keeping his mouth close in case his fangs showed a bit too much.

"Thank you! Thank you so much!" The kids babbled, pushing each other to get their hands on the snacks. There was just enough for all of them... The last one, Owen took out of the box and handed it to the boy that pulled him inside. 

"Here, you can have it," He said with a warm smile. "What's your name, kid?"

"I'm Luke," The little one whispered, a bit timid. He still accepted the treat, though.

"Luke! What a pretty name... I'm Owen. It's nice to meet you!" The lumberjack smiled, carefully ruffling the boy's short, black hair.

"What happened to your hand?"

The fledgling immediately flinched and pulled back. He got so excited at the prospect of being accepted, he forgot he had to hide... But the kid didn't seem scared, or put off. He was.. Curious. Owen glanced at his hand. The damaged skin, the disfigured fingers, the claws he picked on so much they resembled human nails more... He took a deep breath, then put his smile back on.

"I fought a wolf with it, you know? And I won!"

"Woah..." Luke gasped. He sat down on the ground staring at Owen with growing confidence and trust. "I'd be too scared to fight a wolf..."

"Don't worry. The wolves are gone now..." The lumberjack giggled, then briefly made eye contact with Louis. 

The mayor looked right at home with so many kids surrounding him... Owen has never seen him smile so much. And that was such a heartwarming sight... No wonder he was so excited at the prospect of baking. Even if it didn't serve them explicitly... It did something so, so much more important. And Owen couldn't wait to do that again.

Chapter 13: Blood on the snow

Summary:

TW: Violence and cannibalism

Owen needs to make a choice to protect the only man he loves.

Notes:

Oh lord this fic is at over 4k hits now. Thank you all so much! <3

Here, have a more story-focused chapter this time. It will be important in the future :3

It's been months since Owen last entered the forest alone.

He didn't really have a reason to anymore - everything he needed was in Oakhurst, in one specific house. If he really wanted, he could never leave Louis' house again, confine himself to the comfort of his walls and drown in the sweet bliss that this love granted him. But Owen was not one to freeload. Once the snow began melting, he decided that he needed to venture out again and see if he still got it. 'It' being the drive to still work as a lumberjack. Of course, he didn't have to do it anymore - Louis had more than enough money to fund their comfortable lifestyle... Still, as Owen walked down the path towards his old house, something fresh in the air reinvigorated him, and reaffirmed his decision to go out that day.

For one, they wouldn't have to spend money on firewood if he ventured out every now and then to cut some down. Two, the comfort of Louis' house got him feeling a bit restless - and he couldn't let himself grow too soft. And three - sometimes he just needed a change of scenery. And since the mayor was fine with him venturing out on his own, what could go wrong?

Owen's old house poked out between the naked trees. The vampire watched it for a second, then turned away. It was surprisingly easy to just one day take all of his bearings (not that he had much to his name) and leave, only to never come back. This small, cold hut never felt like a true home. It was more like a waiting room, where Owen would only come to eat something and attempt to sleep through his pain. He didn't even miss it, didn't even turn his head to look as the building disappeared behind his back. He lowered his head a little. His shoes (newly bought by Louis, his old ones were far too damaged) left deep prints in the thick layer of snow. His axe dangled by his belt, a familiar weight that tapped against his leg rhythmically. It felt a lot lighter than when he last had to use it... He could only imagine that it was due to his recovery that allowed him to regain his strength.

Finally, Owen found a suitable place to begin his work. While leaving Oakhurst and trekking through the forest, doubt crept into his mind. What if his break from job was too long and he forgot how to do it properly? However, as soon as he reached his destination, his muscle memory immediately returned. He grabbed his axe with the same dexterity as always, and approached a sizable pine tree.

"Alright, there goes nothing..." He hummed to himself.

The first swing of his axe went in surprisingly easy, and it actually caught Owen off guard. Just how much stronger did he get due to Louis' gift? The lumberjack glanced at his hands, a cloud of vapor slipping his lips when he chuckled with amusement. They were still damaged and scarred, and yet, they felt so much more strong and stable... Not to mention, they weren't freezing, despite the temperature being just below zero. Owen was already used to feeling cold, he almost stopped flinching whenever cold wind grazed his ribs poking out from under his skin. That was just what his life was up to this point - freeing cold, hunger, exhaustion and pain. But now... Now, it was all better. He slept the whole night peacefully, cuddling with Louis. He enjoyed a good breakfast, and was wearing a new winter coat that was keeping his body warm. 

Soon, Owen was back at his typical working routine. Right after chopping down the first tree, he began cutting off the branches and breaking everything into smaller pieces of lumber. Eventually, he even began whistling and singing, sure that no one would hear him. It was a mix of the old songs that the other lumberjacks taught him, and ones he memorized from Louis' records. A mix of his old life, and the new one he was granted. As soon as he was done trimming the first tree, he stood over the fruits of his labor with a big, proud smile on his face. And he wasn't even feeling tired... In recent years, his illness went so far that after each chopped tree, he needed to sit down and take a bit of a break. But now? He was feeling just fine. Better than fine - physical labor warmed him up, allowing him to unbutton his coat and toss away his shawl.

"I need to do this more often..." He hummed, approaching another tree. Something moved in his peripheral vision, but his brain didn't register it just yet. "We could save so much money... Maybe I could even make some on the side...? Save up, get Louis something pretty... He'd probably love it..."

His axe struck another tree. It only took a few swings for the trunk to began swaying, then tipping over to one side. Owen huffed, wiping the sweat off his forehead-

And only then, he realized someone was standing there. Several feet away, just where the tree was about to fall.

"Watch out!" The vampire dashed forward. He didn't have the time to push the stranger away, they were standing too far away... So instead, he did the next best thing he could think of. Owen grabbed the falling tree, preventing it from falling on top of the unsuspecting person. He groaned from the strain. He definitely wouldn't have been able to do this without vampiric strength, but even with it, he slightly overestimated just how heavy the tree was. Slowly, he set it down, only then attracting the attention of the stranger.

"Oh, I'm so sorry!- Owen...?"

The lumberjack put the tree trunk down and got up, still catching his breath. Only then, he finally recognized the figure. Taller than him, shrouded in a black cassock and a similarly dark coat. His striking green eyes watched Owen with gratitude and intrigue. It clicked in the fledgling's head at last. The priest from the local church. How long has it been since they last spoke...? 

"Oh... Good morning, Father," Owen huffed. "I'm sorry, I didn't notice you..."

"Lord bless you, child..." The vampire frowned a little at the greeting. It's been years since he was allowed to step foot in the church... What would happen if he tried it now? "It's great to see you, I was worried you didn't make it through the winter..."

Yeah, you were worried, sure... The lumberjack gritted his teeth. The priest was nice to him a couple of times in the past, although most of the time, his help was limited to praying for Owen's health. But where was he when Owen was chased out of the church by the people, only to never get close to that building again?

"Well, I did make it..." Owen chuckled, then began cutting off the branches once more. 

"And you seem to be doing well... I was sure that the Lord would heal you from this horrible illness."

Your Lord didn't heal me, the vampire almost snapped back, but kept his mouth shut. No, of course he couldn't state the real reason why his state improved so much... He couldn't tell anyone. Especially a literal priest.

"Well, I did get some help from mayor Louis... He sent me to the Capital, where they found a way to cure me," Owen explained briefly. Yes, that sounded plausible. It accounted for why he disappeared from the public eye for a while, and explained his connection with the mayor. 

"Oh, wonderful!" The priest approached Owen, watching him work. "I was thinking of heading there myself, sometime soon... Although, you say that the mayor helped you...?"

"Yes...? What's wrong with that, Father?" Owen tensed a little.

"Well... I would be wary of that man, if I were you."

The lumberjack immediately froze, his axe almost slipping out of his hand and landing on his foot. He straightened his back, his brown eyes meeting the priest's.

"Why...?"

"Well, don't get me wrong, mayor Louis is a wonderful man, may God bless his soul, but... I've heard some rumors circling the town. Something about him being in contact with the dark forces..."

Owen inhaled sharply, almost sneezing when the cold air scratched his throat. Who the hell dared to talk badly about Louis? Louis, the sweetest, kindest, most sincere man in this whole rotten world? And what sort of rumor was that? In contact with the dark forces? What did that even mean?

"Don't believe everything you hear, Father," the lumberjack grunted, then turned away, to not let the priest see the raw anger that began coursing through his veins. "Isn't it cruel? Louis spent his whole time improving this town, trying to make everyone happy... And this is how his people repay him?"

"I'm not making any judgments on him, child. I also believe that our mayor is a good man... I just want you to be careful. I don't want you to find out that his help has a price..."

It did, Owen thought, looking down at his hands. A price I was happy to pay... But you wouldn't get it, would you, Father?

"If it wasn't for him, I'd probably be dead already," Owen chuckled and turned around again. "And instead... I'm not."

Well, technically that was a lie. But the priest didn't need to know that part.

"I can tell... And it brings me great joy to see that." The man's hand landed on Owen's shoulder. The lumberjack immediately tensed. He could feel something strange, dangerous pulsating off him... Like some sort of light, weakening the vampire's cursed spirit. He carefully swatted his hand off. "And now that you're healthy again... What are you planning to do? Didn't you want to stay at the Capital?"

"Why would I? I have everything I need here," Owen explained calmly.

"Well, I'm asking, because your house seemed abandoned the last time I walked by it..."

The lumberjack's grip on his axe loosened again. Why did the priest walk by his house...? It was so deep in the woods, away from prying eyes... One wouldn't find it if they were to follow the busiest paths. Did he go out of his way to check on Owen? If so, then why did he take interest in him only now? Just to organize his burial? Or...

"Don't come into my house anymore..." Owen let out a small growl, then added after recollecting himself "Besides, I moved out of there."

"You did? Where to?"

"That's my private business. If your Lord is so great, why don't you ask him, Father?"

He was getting tired of this conversation, likely for a few reasons. This strange aura that surrounded the man was making him feel weaker, more vulnerable. He was never much of a talker, especially with people who he conversed with a handful of times in his life. And he had to be so wary to not accidentally reveal himself... He couldn't afford to go into details.

The priest went quiet for a moment. Just as Owen thought he finally got him off his back, he finally began speaking again.

"I'm glad you're feeling better now, child... The Lord loves you, no matter the way you got rid of your condition. You will always be accepted by him." Seeing a lack of reaction from the young man, the priest added "May I bless you before I have to go?"

Owen sighed and turned back to him. If that meant he would finally get this man off his back, then so be it... He closed his eyes, allowing the priest to leave a meaningless mark on his forehead...

But as soon as he did, something began to burn. 

Owen immediately jumped back with an angry, startled hiss. This one small gesture was as if someone put up molten silver on his forehead. He clutched the hurt spot, his fangs immediately clicking open. Holy water... The priest must've blessed him with holy water. And it hurt, it hurt so badly... The vampire gasped for air, struggling to recompose himself.

"O- Owen...?"

He slowly looked up at the priest, who backed off in fear. Holy water still dripped down his hand. He knew... He knew what Owen has become. And if he linked it back to Louis... Still trembling from the pain, Owen grabbed his axe. His mind began covering with a mist.

"Owen, what happened...?"

"I'm sorry, Father," he hissed. "I can't let you go back now."

"Did mayor Louis do this to you...? Owen, child, you can still be saved! You can repent, and we can free you from this dem-"

The priest went silent as soon as the axe struck him in the head. 

He tumbled to the ground. 

Crimson blood spilled on the pristine white snow. 

Immediately taunted by the smell, Owen fell to his knees, his fangs digging into the man's neck before he could even think about it. Was he still alive? Didn't matter... He couldn't return to Oakhurst. He knew too much. The vampire gasped, slurping the delicious, thick blood. It was so much better than animal blood... So much sweeter and filling. He licked off any droplets that dared to drip down his chin. At some point, he could swear he heard the priest let out his last breath... No, it didn't matter. He earned this fate, going against forces he didn't understand. Being against Louis was enough to deserve this... Owen couldn't trust him to keep this a secret.

As soon as he was done feasting on the blood, Owen sat on the snow, gasping for air. Only now, it finally hit him what he did. He killed a man... No, he was just acting in self defense. His hand traveled to the mark on his forehead. Would it leave a scar? If so, he'll have to hide it with his hair...

That was easy enough. But how would he hide the body?

Unless...

Owen took a few deep breaths, bracing himself for what was to come. He checked one last time that the priest was definitely dead... And then, he took the first bite off his arm. His eyes widened. Human meat should not taste this good... But within seconds, any queasiness and moral quandaries he may have felt vanished. He needed to get rid of the evidence of what he did. The vampire continued to feast, looking around every now and then to make sure no one was coming. Not that it mattered... If someone did, he would just go after them, and kill them as well. Whatever it took to keep their secret safe...

Deep down, he hated how powerful this made him feel. Human meat was so much more nutritious and invigorating than any animals he tried up to this point... Owen felt like a wild beast, ripping out chunks of flesh and devouring them. That was easily the best and worst thing he's ever done... What would Louis think? No, he'd definitely be proud of him, for going so far to keep them safe... Owen was doing it for them, not just for himself. He wasn't in the wrong. He was just defending himself. He was in the right here. He had to be...

Eventually, the vampire stopped, realizing he wouldn't be able to eat the whole body. He looked down at the remainder of the corpse. The priest's limbs were torn off, his stomach cut open and most of his organs eaten out. After making sure he wasn't being watched, Owen began dragging the body away. There was a spot where he often saw wolves, back when he lived in the woods... It's gonna be so much easier to just blame it all on wild animals. He grunted with strain. The painful burn and a full stomach definitely didn't help... But eventually, he was able to take the body as far away as he needed to clean his conscience. At least for now.

Immediately after returning to his spot, Owen returned to work. He tried his best to forget about the encounter, but the bloody taste that filled his mouth made it impossible. He hated just how much he enjoyed the taste, and the feeling of power that went together with it... He kept licking his lips, to savor the last droplets of blood that stayed on his mouth. But his heart began feeling heavy. What if someone did see him? People will eventually notice that the priest disappeared... But he didn't have a choice. If Owen let him go, he would definitely tell everyone in town the truth. So much for that Lord of his loving Owen... There was only one man in this world that loved him. And he would do anything to protect him.

As soon as the second tree was reduced to firewood, the lumberjack decided to head back. He gathered a bunch of if, before turning back and heading towards Oakhurst. He could hide it. He could hide the guilt, the burn mark, and the blood that now stained his new clothes...

But he couldn't hide the white of his hair, now blending in with the bloodied snow he left behind.

Chapter 14: The wet, sticky guilt

Summary:

Owen's actions come to light, driving a wedge between him and Louis.

Louis did not expect to find Owen back home when he returned. He already knew about his partner's plans for the day, how he wanted to give his job another try once he recovered from his illness. The mayor didn't have anything against letting his lover go out on his own, but he was still a bit wary. What if he got himself hurt? What if someone found him out, and Owen didn't know how to deal with it? It took a bit of convincing and swearing he'll be careful, but eventually, Louis let him go. He had to, eventually... He promised he wouldn't keep Owen caged against his will. If it was all up to him... But it wasn't.

When Louis was greeted with silence, he sighed with relief and began taking off his coat. As much as he adored Owen with all of his cute quirks, he needed peace and quiet every now and then. He could probably take a quick nap, before Owen returns and he has to take care of him again...

However, as soon as Louis collapsed on the bed, he heard a loud, piercing squeal.

"Whoa!" The vampire jumped up and back on his feet, startled by the sound. "Owen...?"

The bed appeared empty, messy bedsheets crumpled in the middle. Carefully, Louis put his hand inside the bedsheets, looking for a small, fuzzy, familiar shape. Once he felt something, he carefully grabbed it and pulled it out. 

The little brown bat in his hand wriggled and squeaked, he looked terrified. His fur was covered in something sticky and greasy, dying Louis' hand brown. He didn't even seem to recognize the other vampire... And that worried Louis greatly.

"Owen, what happened? Honey... What's wrong...?"

The bat continued to fight back and cry. There was something wild, animalistic in his eyes. But that was still Owen, right...? Louis opened their closer, pulled out a fresh towel and wrapped the bat in it, not letting him fly away.

"Owen, Owen! It's fine, it's me... Can you understand me?" The mayor spoke calmly "Can you nod your head if you understand me?"

It took Owen a few seconds, but eventually, he did calm down a little. Slowly, he nodded his tiny, fuzzy head, his eyes softening. Scared squeaks still escaped him with every breath, but he stopped fighting. The bat hid his snout in his wings, shielding himself from the outside world.

"Can you speak, Owen?"

He only received squeaks in response. Louis took a deep breath. That's fine... Clearly, something scared Owen into his bat form, and overwhelmed him so much he retrieved back to his more primal instincts. But he was still there... He was looking up at Louis from behind his wings, his eyes the biggest and most trusting in the world. 

"Okay, it's fine... Just calm down, sweetie, you're safe here... Once you feel better, you can turn back and tell me what happened, okay...?"

Owen curled up in the towel, soaking in the warmth and comfort. The sticky substance on his fur was now covering the fabric. Louis began stroking the fur on his chest, trying to recognize what it was. It smelled familiar...

"What is this thing...?" He muttered, moving his finger to scratch Owen behind his ear. "Here, here... You're gonna be okay... I'm here with you..."

It took Owen a long, long time to truly calm down. His tiny body was still shaking, but eventually, he succumbed to the comfort that Louis granted him. He didn't know yet... Owen didn't want him to find out. What would he say? How would he react? Would he be upset? Angry? Worried? His partner already had so much on his plate, he didn't want to add any more struggle to his busy life... If he only could, he'd just hide in the warm, cosy towel and never come out.

But eventually, he had to.

While laying on the bed and carefully stroking the bat's fur, Louis smiled when Owen turned back and landed on his chest. His big, brown eyes were tinted a bit more red than usual... Dark and sad, full of regrets. Something sticky, patchy was covering his hair. He looked like he stuck something in there in a rush, and lighter streaks poked out here and there... His hair was never this light, was it...? Was he trying to hide something?

"How are you feeling?" Louis asked quietly. The lumberjack sighed and slumped on top of him.

"Awful... My stomach hurts..." He muttered.

"Why...?"

"I... I don't wanna talk about it."

Louis took a deep breath. He needed to get to the bottom of this, but Owen didn't want to talk... Something clearly happened to him. And all signs pointed to the last thing Louis wanted to happen... But, above all, he needed to make sure Owen was comfortable and safe.

"I think you need a bath, honey..." The mayor said, putting his hands on Owen's cheeks.

"Do I...?"

"Yeah... You got your hair dirty, and your hands..." He picked up Owen's hand. It was bruised, dirty, still trembling. "It's gonna be okay, sweetheart... What if I take a bath with you...?"

Owen shut his mouth, pondering the offer. It was so tempting to cuddle with his partner during a hot bath... On any other day, he'd jump at the opportunity. But now... What if the henna washed away? What if Louis found the blood he wasn't able to wash off? What if he realized what happened in some other way?

"Come on, sweetie... A bath will do wonders for you after such a long day..." Louis grabbed his hands and pulled him up from the bed. Owen couldn't fight back... He just whimpered and put his forehead against his lover's chest. "Owen... Is there something you wanna tell me...?"

"No..." The lumberjack whimpered, then added with an awkward smile "Just that I love you so much...?"

"Oh, dearest..." Louis picked him up and dragged him towards the bathroom. "You're such a wet cat sometimes..."

"I'm a what now?"

As the bathtub filled with water, Owen stalled taking his clothes off as long as he could. Instead, he watched as his partner unbuttoned his shirt and tossed it aside. It was so rare that he took off his clothes, usually he had something on him, even when they slept or cuddled... But now, the lumberjack could watch him in all his glory. He was slim, but pretty muscular, his pristine skin untouched by any signs of damage or aging... Aside from two. One - the bite mark on his shoulderblade. The second one, which Owen somehow never noticed before - two thin scars, just under his chest. They looked as if they were long healed, and yet... Something about them worried Owen.

"Louis?"

"Yes?"

"Did something hurt you in the chest?"

The vampire paused for a moment. It took him a while to realize what Owen was talking about. Once he did, he smiled awkwardly and responded:

"Oh! No, no... Quite the opposite." He snickered. "Long story... I'll tell you one day, okay?"

"Fine..." Owen reluctantly unbuttoned his own shirt. Immediately, he could feel Louis' eyes all over him. "You like what you see, huh?"

"I do..." The elder vampire smirked.

There was something worrying he noticed, however. Dark stains not only on Owen's hands, but also on his wrists, and neck... And the faint smell of blood he couldn't quite shake off; the smell of human blood... He needed to get to the bottom of this. He approached Owen and put his hands in his hair, gently scratching his scalp.

"Did you try dying your hair, honey...?"

"...no...? I- I mean... I just wanted to... Experiment..." Owen squirmed, clearly avoiding the question. Louis sighed. He could tell his lover was lying to him... Finally, he picked him up and put him straight into the bathtub, before entering it himself. "Wait, hold on!-"

"You'll be fine..." Louis giggled. "Still unused to the hot water, hm?" 

"M-mhm..." 

Immediately upon touching the water, the sticky substance began dissolving from Owen's hair. Louis wrapped his hand around his lover's chest to keep him in place, washing off the henna with his other hand. Owen squirmed and hid his face, but didn't fight back. 

"There, there... I gotchu, honey... Let me just wash it... Off..."

The dye easily gave way, it clearly stayed on Owen's hair for not long enough. With each gentle pull, his hands tensed, as the truth slowly revealed itself. Owen did try to dye his hair... To keep them his usual brown. Instead, his delicate, curly locks took on a bright, white color. They were just as silky as usual, and even smoother to touch... But they couldn't just be hidden with a layer of henna. Owen pulled his knees close to his chest, his throat tightening. He wouldn't realize, right...? 

"Owen...?"

"Yes...?"

"Your hair was never white before, was it...?"

"Louis, I..."

"A vampire's hair turns white in two cases." Louis' tone was calm, but Owen could hear the disappointment and worry that he struggled to keep at bay. "If they drink human blood, or eat human meat. Did you do that, Owen...?"

"I..." The lumberjack whimpered, trying to come up with some sort of excuse. "Louis, listen, I- I didn't mean to, I-"

"Did you?" His voice suddenly sounded sharper.

"I... I did."

The fledgling put his head on the edge of the bathtub. His chest hurt from all the guilt he felt. His stomach still ached from his recent indulgence - but his fangs still itched for more. But that was easy enough to hide... So when he noticed that his hair turned white, he panicked. But he didn't have time to dye them properly, before his anxiety took over, and he just hid in the bedsheets, hoping he'd never be found again. But he was... And now Louis knew the truth. Or at least some of it.

"Why did you lie to me, Owen...?"

Owen almost let out a whimper at the question. Louis sounded so hurt and upset... The lumberjack wanted to turn around and hug him, right then and there... But he wouldn't be able to look him in the eyes. 

"I- I'm sorry!" He whimpered "I- I was caught off guard, and- And he knew- I had to silence him- I did it for you- I swear I didn't-"

"Did you turn that human...?" Louis asked, his voice unwavered. The chances were low... Owen was still inexperienced, he didn't know how much blood to drink and how to distribute his venom... But the risk was still there.

"No, I don't... I don't think so... I- I ate his limbs, to make sure..." Owen nervously chuckled.

"Is that why your tummy hurts...?" Louis sighed and pulled him a bit closer. His lover was very tense and nervous. He wanted to comfort him right away, tell him that it was gonna be okay... But for the first time, he didn't know if that was true.

"Yes... But I'm still hungry..." He grumbled. "And I don't know why...?"

Louis took a deep breath. He continued pulling his fingers through his hair, but his movement lacked its usual grace and kindness. His own sire would immediately blow up at Owen, yell at him, probably hurt him... He had to be better than this. He had to keep his cool. Even if it was getting really difficult.

"Human blood is very potent on vampires... Once you taste it, you will always be tempted to eat it again," Louis sighed, pulling his claws through his own long, white hair. "This is why people see vampirism as a curse. I wanted to spare you this part of our gift..."

"You... You feel it too, right...?"

"I do."

Of course he did... It's been years since he last feasted on a human. Every time he did, it was to turn someone... Most recently, Owen. As soon as he drank his blood, the cravings returned. The three days that he spent in the tower, waiting for Owen to wake up, was a real test of his resolve. How many times he was tempted to devour the young lumberjack, sleeping in his arms... But he didn't, no matter how much his instincts screamed at him. But he wasn't able to spare Owen the same fate. Now, he would feel this as well. 

"I'm sorry..." Owen whispered. "I- I really didn't want to do it, I had to..."

"I'm not upset that you had to do it..." Louis admitted quietly. "You had to defend yourself, and I get it. But... Why did you lie to me...?"

"I- I was... Ashamed, I guess... And afraid, that you'd be upset..."

"Upset? Dear, I-" Louis paused briefly, to recollect himself. Seeing how Owen was shaking made him feel awful... But he needed to put his foot down. "You need to tell me about these things! I'm the mayor of Oakhurst, dear! I need to keep tabs on everyone! If I was caught off guard by someone going missing; How am I going to explain this?! I need to know what's happening!"

"You're mad at me...?"

"I'm-" The elder vampire clenched his fists, his claws digging deep into his skin. Hold it together, Louis, he thought, you can't get mad at him... "I'm... I'm not mad at you."

"But... You're upset."

"I... It's fine."

Louis continued to wash his partner, getting the last of the hair dye out of his locks. As if he wasn't busy with his work as he was... Now, he needed to take care of this. Keeping the secret, making sure Owen doesn't get himself in trouble... His brain was racing, trying to think of some sort of easy solution. There was none... But he had to keep his cool, no matter the cost. Owen was trying, he couldn't be blamed for what happened...

"Owen...? Can you at least tell me who it was...?"

Owen curled up even tighter. Louis deserved to know... But it couldn't pass through his throat. The shame was just too great. Even Louis' delicate touch couldn't soothe him. He messed up, he messed up so badly... But he was just doing what he had to do. He wasn't in the wrong for that, was he...?

"Okay, you don't have to tell me... I'll figure it out. Just... Stay home for the next few days, okay...?"

The fledgling nodded. He couldn't do much more.

Eventually, Louis finished washing his partner, and dragged him out of the bathtub. He still tried to be as caring as loving as usual, but his signature, gentle smile was nowhere to be seen - instead replaced with a blank, focused expression. He needed to get to the bottom of this, and make sure they would be safe... But his job just got significantly harder.

"Are you hungry?" He asked while buttoning up his shirt.

"No... No, not really."

They both knew it was a lie. The hunger for human meat was ravaging him, but Owen couldn't lean into it... He needed to take responsibility, even if it hurt.

From the bathroom, Louis headed straight to his bedroom. He hasn't eaten anything all day, but with so much on his mind, he was in no mood to eat anything. He curled up on the edge of the bed, with his back to Owen. Even though he should be better than this, he should be there for Owen, comfort him, reassure him... But he couldn't. The negative emotions coursing through his head threatened to overflow at any moment, and snap at his lover... He couldn't. He loved him too much to let him see that... Even despite all the promises he may have made.

"Louis...?" Owen put his hand on his partner's back, but pulled back when he only tensed in response. He needed time to process... "I... I'm sorry, Louis... Goodnight..."

Slowly and quietly, Owen backed out of the room and into their living room. The second the door clicked close, Louis sat up and looked after him. He wanted to call out after Owen... But, eventually, he collapsed on the bed once more. Maybe if he just took a nap, everything would get better...

Owen took his usual spot on the couch. He usually didn't mind sleeping there, especially during the day, but he never felt this... Alone. He wrapped a blanket around himself, curling up to occupy as little space as possible. His stomach hurt so badly, he needed to eat something... But not yet. Maybe in the morning, the craving would go away... Maybe everything would just get better...

Chapter 15: Apart and together

Summary:

Despite everything, Louis and Owen make amends.

It's hard to focus on one's work when in the meantime, they have to think over how to hide a murder. Louis struggled to keep his head low during work, and act as if nothing bad happened. His whole time, he couldn't forget the way Owen looked at him, talked to him, offered him space when he needed it most. He shouldn't be mad at him, but it wasn't easy... He messed up, acted without Louis' guidance and tried hiding everything. That made the mayor's job a lot harder. He almost forgot how hard it is to keep a fledgling around - usually, they quickly abandoned him, and their fate was no longer his concern... But not this time. He wanted Owen to stay. But he couldn't just forget about what he did... That little stunt and his attempts to hide it could result in harm to both of them. They haven't even talked since their argument, so Louis didn't know who he even slaughtered... He would have to go into the town and snoop around, but that put him at a huge risk-

"Mister mayor?"

Louis flinched and started blinking, his eyes refocusing. He almost forgot that he was in the middle of a meeting; his worries caused him to zone out and miss out on a lot of the conversation.

"Sorry, sorry, I- Where do I sign?"

"...we're talking about the new clergies coming to town, sir... Have you not been listening?"

"I- Uh..." Louis got up from his chair, his head spinning a little from exhaustion. "I- I have, I just... I need a minute. Please, delegate someone to show them around Oakhurst, will you?"

"Of course, sir."

Louis headed straight out of the meeting room, shutting the door a bit too forcefully than he wanted. Immediately, a wild hiss slipped his lips, which he muffled by covering his mouth. The stress was getting to him, and it was harder and harder to keep it at bay... His hands, veiled in white gloves to hide his claws, were shaking. Stumbling through the hall, the vampire entered his office and locked the door behind himself. Right away, he collapsed on his swivel chair, sending it spinning as he curled up and struggled to control his breathing.

The mayor spent the last night in his office. He worried about leaving Owen completely alone, but also didn't want to risk accidentally hurting him. But leaving him behind could cause him to end up in a worse place mentally... Their situation was full of difficult decisions. Louis wanted to take as many of them as he could from Owen's hands, solve everything, create this perfect life for both of them... But instead, he couldn't even get himself into the right state of mind. He slumped on his chair, taking a glance at the empty wine bottle on his desk. He needed more... Even if that would leave him in an even worse space. Anything, just to quell this pain for a moment.

---

Louis pondered staying overnight once more, but his guilt eventually forced him out of his office. His head felt hazy and woozy from the alcohol - he usually handled it well, but as he skipped out on eating, his tolerance dropped. Heading home took a lot of effort, to not appear tipsy to the people he passed by on the streets. 

Usually, Louis greeted the people he passed by on his way back home. This time, he kept his head low, ignoring any words directed to him. For the first time since meeting Owen, he dreaded heading back home... Not because he didn't want to see his beloved man, but because he didn't know what to do. Should he act as if nothing happened, and put up another lovey-dovey mask? Should he have another talk with Owen, pressure him to reveal more details? Or should he just keep ignoring him and ignoring the topic, until it was too late? He was Owen's sire, he should know what to do... But he was at a complete loss. Was there even anything that he could do at this point...?

"Hi, Louis..." Owen's voice greeted him the second Louis opened the door. 

The lumberjack was sitting on the couch, fidgeting with something in his hands. His heart dropped when his lover avoided looking him in the eye, and headed straight to their bedroom without another word. Owen was already worried sick, when he didn't return last night... But he kept his word and stayed home, instead of heading out to search for him. And even a day later, his sire still didn't want to talk to him. He just silently watched as the mayor closed the bedroom door behind himself.

"Shit... Get a hold of yourself, Louis..." The elder vampire hissed to himself as he collapsed on the bed. He didn't even take off his coat or shoes, instead hid his face in the pillow and curled up. "You gotta talk to him, you gotta be there for him... You gotta... You..."

Louis may have drifted off to sleep, or just zoned out. Either way, he just laid there, drowning in his overwhelming thoughts, unable to catch his breath. He should have it all figured out, some sort of plan in case something like this happened... But he had nothing. Just a vague idea that they were in trouble. But how long would it take for the people to notice? What would they do? Would their skepticism and worry be greater than their belief in their trustable mayor? Yeah, their mayor... Louis usually carried that title with pride. He almost saw himself as a link between humans and the inhuman - even if one of the groups was unaware of the existence of the other. But maybe it wasn't possible after all...? What if his sire was right? What if all a vampire could do was never get off their high horse and only ever treat humans as food?-

And then, he heard knocking on the door.

Louis just groaned and curled up more tightly on the bed. Not now, not now... Even if he was starving, exhausted and on the brink of crying. He didn't want Owen to see him like this... He could wait until Owen was asleep, and then get himself back together, so that he wouldn't see a thing...

The knocking repeated.

"Not now, Owen..." The elder vampire groaned.

And then, the third time.

Louis let out an angry growl and got up from his bed. Why couldn't Owen just leave him alone? He was doing this for him, to save him the pain of seeing his lover as such a confused, helpless mess-

But once he pulled the door open, he saw Owen standing on the doorstep, with a plate of meat and a bottle of crimson in his hands.

"I thought you might be hungry..." He muttered, still averting eye contact. "You can just... Take it, and... And I'll stay right here..."

Louis took a deep breath. His throat felt scratchy, as he held back tears. That was such a sweet gesture from Owen... He was still willing to give Louis space, but also made sure he wouldn't go hungry... The mayor accepted the offering, the anger in his eyes softening immediately.

"Can you... Can you sit with me?" He asked quietly. "I mean, I just want to... Be with you."

"Of course..."

Louis walked back into the room, almost collapsing on the bed. He still ended up sitting in a not very proper manner, and immediately put a piece of meat in his mouth. The best of Oakhurst beef... As silly as he felt to admit it, just a few bites and a few sips of the thick blood made him feel better. His mind cleared, and no longer felt as sluggish. As he continued eating, Owen walked in, holding something in his hands. Only then, Louis finally realized what that was... A piece of carved wood, and Owen's knife. He sat next to the bed, putting a handkerchief on his lap so that the splinters wouldn't end up on the floor, and continued his work. His partner leaned over his shoulder, watching him. He looked so cute when he was focused... He furrowed his brows in a funny way, and stuck out his tongue when it came to cutting out very small pieces of wood. 

"Didn't know you could woodcarve..." Louis whispered, but immediately felt bad about making such a remark. Owen was a lumberjack, of course he knew how to do that...

"I'm just learning," Owen admitted quietly. "I started as a kid, dropped it when my illness got bad... Now, I picked it up again, to deal with... The hunger..."

"Have you eaten anything since I... Since I left...?"

Owen shook his head.

"I caused it to happen, I need to get this under control..." He muttered. "It hurts, but... I got used to hunger throughout my life."

"But- I don't want you to be hungry..."

"And I don't want us to get in trouble! I..." The lumberjack set his knife aside. "I'm so, so sorry, Louis... Can we just... Talk...?"

"We can..."

After finishing his meal, Louis laid across the bed, his head hanging off the side close to Owen. They abstained from physical contact just yet. There was something they needed to settle first...

"Be honest," Owen asked. "Were you actually mad at me? Or... Are you still...?"

"I was never mad, I was... Lost, and upset, and tired, and... Angry at myself..." Louis finally admitted. "For failing to protect you... I'm your sire, I should have it all figured out-"

"Did your sire have it all figured out?"

"Of course he did! He always knew what to do, and he-"

"Lou," Owen interrupted him, putting his hand under Louis' chin. "Did he...?"

The vampire pondered for a second. A small, bitter smile entered his face.

"Well, he... He didn't. He didn't have me figured out... Told me that it was an accident, while he was drunk..." Louis sighed. "And I could tell he regretted that..."

"We're partners, right? We can figure things out together..." Owen proposed, his head slumping against Louis'. "I'm sorry I lied to you, and tried to hide it..."

"And I'm sorry I snapped at you, and... And that I avoided you for the past few days... I just needed to sort things out, and I didn't want to hurt you..."

"It still hurt," the lumberjack admitted. "I was so scared... That it was gonna be the end..."

"What...? No, no no no no no, honey! Sweetheart, dearest!" Louis immediately took Owen's hand and kissed his knuckles. "I- I promise, I wouldn't break up with you over something like this- Over anything! I love you so much, I'm sorry... I'm sorry for hurting you..." He covered his mouth with his other hand, struggling to keep himself from crying. He couldn't appear weak in front of Owen... Not now, when they were working through everything-

"Louis...? It's okay..."

The elder vampire looked down at his fledgling, at the tears in his eyes, at his wet cheeks. He was also crying... Immediately, he got off the bed and hugged his lover tight, as tightly as he could. At that moment, he no longer cared about keeping up appearances. He needed comfort from Owen, even if it made him appear weak... Who cared if he did? Owen loved him the way he was, even if Louis' brain tried to stubbornly convince him that it wasn't true... He put his nose against the lumberjack's neck, inhaling his sweet, sweaty, slightly bloody scent. 

"There, there..." Owen whispered, then repeated his earlier statement "We're partners, right...? We'll get through this together... I promise..."

"Will we...?"

"Yes! I promise... I'll never leave you... Come here, you dork..."

Owen got up from the ground, then picked up Louis without much of a problem. His sire let out a startled squeal. He knew his boyfriend was strong, but he didn't expect to be handled this easily... But this is just what he needed - to be in Owen's warm, reassuring arms. The two of them fell on the bed, immediately clinging to each other. Louis' head landed on Owen's chest, slowly falling and raising with each breath of his. He missed this so badly... And finally, it was all fine. He would be fine. They would both be.

"I love you..." Owen whispered, pulling his claws through Louis' long, silky hair. "So, so much... Do you need anything right now...?"

"No... Just you." The elder vampire smiled, settling comfortably on top of him. He closed his eyes, but they shot open when a rumbling sound reached him. Louis couldn't hold back a chuckle. "Someone's hungy..."

"I..." The lumberjack sighed "Fine, I am..." He let out a soft chuckle, his face falling into Louis' hair. "I'm so hungry, man, it was... Such a bad idea..."

"Mhm, yeah... It was a bad idea, just because it got you hungy..." Louis teased, pinching his partner's side. He was so warm and squishy... He changed so much since they met, it was quite unbelievable. And the mayor absolutely adored each sign of his change, even the smallest ones.

"Hey, I didn't say it just because of that! And you didn't warn me that human meat is this... Good... Gosh, this is the worst thing I've ever said." Owen began giggling, at a loss for this strange situation he got himself in. This insane change, that he never imagined himself going through... At the beginning of last summer, he was alone, sick, and starving. Now, he was a human eating vampire... But he was also healthy, and accompanied by the most wonderful man he has ever met. "I shouldn't say that, should I?"

"I wish I could disagree, but..." Louis sighed and smacked his lips. "It is quite delicious..."

"When was the last time you had some...?"

The vampire went quiet.

"Two centuries..." He muttered eventually. "After that, I swore it off... Aside from drinking the blood of people whom I turned, that is..."

"Was my blood tasty...?"

Louis was caught off by that question, causing him to burst out into laughter.

"Can I be honest...?"

"Sure!"

"It was... Quite bad... Your illness made it so bitter, and thin, and bleh... But now, it'd probably be soooo much better..." He added with a devilish grin, pinching his partner once more.

"What if you tried eating me? Would that satisfy your cravings?" Owen proposed. "I mean, I have a lot more meat on me now, I can spare some..."

"What? Owen, no, I'm not gonna eat you! First of all, my teeth would leave marks that wouldn't heal easily-"

"I can just cut it off! And then you can-"

"Owen, sweetheart," Louis turned over and placed his hands on Owen's cheeks. "I am not going to eat you. I love you, and everything about you, but... I'm not just gonna eat you!"

"Why not? I bet I taste so much better now..." The fledgling smirked, biting his lip in what was supposed to be a flirtatious gesture. Instead, his fangs clicked open without his will, which caused him to flinch and cut through his lower lip. "Ouch! Crap..."

"Oh, sweetie..." Louis giggled, his chin resting on top of Owen's stomach. "I love you so much, you have no idea..."

"So you forgive me...?"

The elder vampire scrunched his nose, thinking for a second.

"Hm... I'll think about that. I think you need to earn it..." He teased, even though his voice betrayed the truth. Even if he was still upset at Owen... He still loved him above everything. So maybe, one day, he would be able to forgive him. 

"Oh, lord... How do I earn your forgiveness, sire...?" Owen giggled.

The elder vampire shivered at the word. It's been years since someone called him that... Decades since someone actually meant it. He usually didn't like that title. Too official, he felt like it separated him from his fledglings too much... But he liked how it sounded in Owen's mouth. That little playful bite he added to it... He could only hope Owen would keep calling him that. Even if their relationship was supposed to have no hierarchy, it just sounded too good to pass up.

"Oh, I know! Since I took up carving... I'll make you something pretty," Owen suggested with a grin.

"Oh really? Like what?"

"I'll figure it out... But first, I need to learn how to do it properly... My hands still get shaky sometimes..."

"You sure it's not because you're hungy?" Louis teased.

"Oh, shut up..." Owen giggled.

Eventually, their playful banter turned into cuddling accompanied by giggling. Finally feeling full, relieved and seen, sleepiness began creeping into Louis' head. He fought it off for as long as he could, but eventually, he had to let go. He cuddled up on Owen, basking in his warmth and wonderful scent, until he finally drifted off into a peaceful slumber.

Chapter 16: Crumbling walls

Summary:

The two vampire lovers have some time to unwind together and appreciate each other.

Notes:

After the recent angst, have some tooth-rotting fluff with these two idiots :3

Also, thanks to getting this fic to 5k hits! It's genuinely quite insane to me lol, this is literally just me making Louis and Owen kiss because I want that to happen in canon lol

The recent argument and resolution seemed to reignite the feeling between the two vampires. Once they were both sure that nothing would break them apart, they suddenly became even more affectionate and loving with one another. Louis went from dreading coming back home, to heading straight there to pull his lover into his arms and cuddle with him. Owen took on a more active role, not only just accepting Louis' affection, but reciprocating it as often as he could. Now, at last, nothing would separate them again. No matter what happened, they would be alright.

That evening, they settled in the little makeshift nest on their bed, both occupied with their own entertainment. Louis was engulfed in a new book, while Owen scribbled away at his number puzzles. The whole time, they laid pressed against each other, their breathing united and calm. At some point, the lumberjack put away his booklet and hugged Louis tightly.

"Lou..."

"What is it?" The mayor smiled, leaning his head against Owen's.

"I need cuddles..."

"I'm right here, silly... Is everything okay?" Louis asked, setting his book aside and putting his hands on Owen's cheeks. "Sweetheart..."

"I'm fine..." The lumberjack sighed, snuggling closer against Owen and pressing himself tightly against Louis. Of course he wasn't... At this point, his lover knew him too well to believe him. 

"Are you hungry...?"

"Mhm..." Owen reluctantly agreed. There was no point in lying, was there...?

Even a few weeks after his first time trying human meat, the memory haunted him, often manifesting as unbearable hunger. He tried hiding it from Louis whenever possible - that was his problem, he needed to deal with it... Which, with time, manifested with him gorging himself while Louis was away. He could only hope he wouldn't notice... It wasn't a big, important secret that he had to share, right?

"No worries, I have some blood for you ri-" Louis paused, when he opened his nightstand. Usually, it was stacked full of bottles of crimson... Now, it was completely empty. "Owen...? Did you drink my blood?"

"I was hungry..." He whimpered "You're not mad, are you...?"

"I'm not..." Louis couldn't hold back a chuckle. "I'm more... Surprised that I didn't notice before..."

"If I knew how bad that hunger would get, I wouldn't have eaten that guy..." Owen admitted with a dumb smile, falling over on the bed limply. "When does it end...?"

"It doesn't really end..." Louis sighed. "This is just our life. But..." He added with a teasing smile "I can look for some more blood for you... To get that hunger under control..."

"You can...?" Owen chuckled awkwardly, watching as his partner got up from the bed and headed outside.

It's been a while since he's been outside. Louis was still wary of letting him outside - due to his changed appearance, but also because of this suffocating hunger. He could deal with it while home, safe and shielded from the world... Which caused him to sleep back into his habits of spending his days mostly sleeping and eating. He tried being active whenever Louis was home, to appear as if everything was fine... But it was far from easy, with how sleepy and bored he felt. 

His eyes lit up when Louis returned with two bottles of blood in his hands. He immediately handed one to Owen, while taking the other one for himself and plopping down on the bed. Lately, he started being a bit more comfortable while at home, no longer feeling the need to put on his perfectly put together persona for Owen. He tossed away his shirt and unbuttoned his pants, then sat with his back against the wall and began drinking. His long, white hair flowed down his bare shoulders.

"That's better..." He sighed with relief after downing half of his bottle. In the corner of his eye, he noticed Owen staring at him with his giant, brown eyes. "What...?"

The lumberjack couldn't hold back a big grin. He already loved his partner, how pristine and perfect he looked... But this was a whole new side of him he was getting to witness. He looked so comfy, slumped in their bed, sipping on blood and not caring about presenting himself as the proper, elegant mayor... Owen's head laid on Louis' chest, watching him with a giddy smile.

"You're so pretty..." He whimpered.

"Am I?" Louis snickered. "Well, definitely not right now, right...?"

"You are..." Owen set his warm hands on his partner's sides.

"Okay, okay, you silly bat... I think someone's really hungry" he teased and kissed Owen's forehead.

Eventually, the fledgling pulled back and grabbed his own bottle. The warm, thick drink did wonders to quell his hunger... Especially when he felt his lover put his hands on his stomach, only to then lay down on top of him.

"You're also beautiful..." Louis whispered "So soft, and healthy..."

"Can you count this as healthy if I'm dead?" Owen snickered.

"Well, you're definitely healthier than you were when I met you..." The elder vampire purred, his eyes widening. He was so adorable when acting like this... Leaning into his vampiric instincts definitely suited him.

Well, there was no denying that... At this point, Owen fully came to terms with the safety and comfort that Louis offered him. Finally, he was no longer always cold and tired, no longer had to hide. Just a few years earlier, he would frown at the idea of getting 'lazy' and going 'soft' - now, that was just a part of his life that he wouldn't change for anything else. A tasty bottle of crimson and some meat to munch on, the warm, caring hands of his lover on his body, and the peaceful silence of a safe home - what more could he want?

"You don't mind that I keep stealing your clothes?" Owen chuckled, looking down at his partner.

"No, not at all... Yours got a little tight, didn't they?"

"Yeah..." He finally admitted, pulling Louis a little closer. "But it's your fault, just so we're clear..."

"Of course it is..." 

Their little playful banter dissolved into cuddling. With time, however, Owen picked up on how tired and sleepy Louis seemed. Was something bothering him again? Was he overworking himself, or not eating enough? Noticing how he almost dozed off, Owen gently set him on the bed and began stroking his bare back.

"You're so pretty..." He whispered. "So perfect..."

"You're so sweet, dear..." Louis smiled sleepily.

"And you're so slim..." The lumberjack pulled his hands across Louis' sides. "How do you do that...?"

"Might be a family thing..." He muttered, slipping deeper and deeper with each word. "A vampire's body doesn't like change... Unless it's necessary, and gets them stronger..."

"So I guess this is the natural state for me, huh?" Owen chuckled, leaning over his partner and pressing his chest and stomach against his back. His warm breath danced on Louis' neck, as his hands rubbed his shoulderblades in hopes of relieving him off his tension. "Maybe my parents were like this... I don't remember them well enough to tell, to be honest..."

"You don't...?" Louis murmured, and then added "Mine were... Good. Good people. Bad parents."

Owen shivered.

"Those scars on your chest... Did they give you that...?"

"Huh? No, that was... That wasn't them," the mayor explained, then let out a big yawn. "I'll tell you one day..."

"Sure, sure..."

Eventually, Louis drifted off into sleep. Owen, however, didn't. He was wide awake - probably due to his extensive napping in recent days. If he really wanted, he could probably just lay down next to Louis, bask in their mutual comfort... But his hands felt too restless. And continuing to massage Louis risked waking him up... He clearly needed his sleep. There was something else that Owen could occupy himself with, however.

He snuck out, into the living room, to grab the piece of wood he was working on, as well as all the tools he needed. The knife he used to do that, he's had it for years - very useful for cutting off small branches off chopped trees, as well as preparing his food. Dirty, old, jagged with age - but still sharp and firm in his hands. Luckily, it wasn't silver, as he would have to stop using it after turning... But it was just some cheap iron. He was gifted this weapon by one of the lumberjacks that took care of him as a young teen. If only they cared enough to say goodbye... Owen's illness also drove them away, didn't it...?

The lumberjack sat down on the floor, next to the bed, then began carefully carving his newest work. To his surprise, vampirism was actually quite beneficial with woodcarving. He didn't need any light to see perfectly well what he was doing. Whenever his knife slipped and he cut himself, he wouldn't bleed. Sometimes Owen even used his fangs to carve the most intricate elements - although it left the taste of lumber all over his mouth, that he needed to wash down with blood. Even though he wasn't great at this hobby, it calmed him down, allowed him to focus on something. Kind of like the number puzzles that he loved to solve - but he wasn't just filling out someone else's work, he was making something from scratch. And that felt so incredible... As funny as it sounded in his head, he felt like all of his creations were like his children, even the most ugly and messed up ones. He already had so many ideas he wanted to make... Like some toys for the children back in the orphanage. The image of them surrounding Louis still couldn't slip his mind... Or he could make something for Louis. His past few attempts at carving simple animals did not go well, but he was getting better and better each time. Maybe this way, he could finally make up for all that Louis had to go through with him...

So many times, his lover told him that he didn't need to pay him back in any way. That taking care of Owen was the biggest privilege he could ever ask for. And yet, Owen couldn't quite stop feeling like a freeloader in his house... He couldn't exactly go out and cut them more firewood - at least for now, Louis preferred to keep him inside. And he didn't have much to do at home, when Louis was away... This laziness of his had its great and horrible sides. On one hand, he didn't have to stress over anything... But since he didn't have to, doubt crept in. This desperate need to reassure Louis that he loved him, and appreciated him, and would do anything for him...

Owen lifted his newest work, looking at it from different angles and searching for things to improve. This time, he made a figurine of a small, pretty crudely cut fox - its head was a bit too big, but it didn't topple the whole thing over just yet. Would Louis like it...? Only time could tell... Owen put it up on the nightstand, then left the room once more, to throw out all the leftover shreds of wood. The night was still young, he could do something with himself... Like go for a nice, solo flight. It's been so long since he transformed into a bat, let alone went for a fly... Sometimes he wondered whether his bat form would get so chubby, it wouldn't be able to take off. But at least for now, he was feeling great... Despite being undead, he never felt more alive. Sometimes, he caught himself wondering what his life would look like, if it wasn't for Louis. Owen pictured himself laying in bed in his old house, wrapped tightly in bandages, silently praying for the pain and hunger to finally go away. Working as a lumberjack didn't pay horribly, but he had to constantly save money for doctors that promised they would heal him. None of them could... But Louis did. If Owen never decided to construct a mill at the outskirts of Oakhurst, and go ask for permission...

Oh, right. The mill. It's been so long since he made those plans, and went to the mayor to discuss them... It's been months, that passed him like a pleasant blur filled with love, warmth and the metallic taste of blood in his mouth. He would probably have to get to it soon... Before he gets too comfy, and completely gives up on any physical labor. But he didn't really have a reason to do that now, did he...? His home was right there. He could stay here for however long he wanted... 

Eventually, all this thinking and wondering finally got Owen feeling sleepy. He set his knife aside, then snuck into the bed, immediately snuggling up to his partner. For a second, he pulled one of his fingers across the narrow scars on his chest, then wrapped his arms around his torso and drifted off to sleep.

---

Louis really wished he didn't have to leave his bed that morning. He adored the feeling of snuggling Owen, smelling his silky hair, pulling his fingers across his chubby sides... But eventually, he had to get up. With a pained sigh, the mayor unwrapped himself from his lover's grasp and sat up at the edge of the bed.

Pretty quickly, he noticed something laying on his nightstand. Right next to Owen's knife, there was a tiny wooden figure of some sort of animal. It could be a cat, or maybe a rabbit...? He wasn't exactly sure, as the shape was a bit hard to read. But Owen was trying so hard, and clearly, he loved his new hobby... Louis picked up his knife. It was clearly old, and worn off... He could probably gift his lover a new one, to make his job easier. But, for the time being, he set it down, then took the figure and slipped it into his pocket.

Owen didn't wake up during all the time Louis spent dressing up, brushing his hair, washing himself and eating breakfast. The mayor even took the time to replenish his little stash in his nightstand, to make sure Owen had enough food for the day. At first, he was worried with how much his partner ate, sensing a possible bad relationship with food... But he was doing just fine. Recovering after years of having barely anything to put in his mouth. And Louis couldn't blame him for that. Not to mention, he looked absolutely adorable and cosy once he finally filled in a bit more.

After putting on his coat, Louis entered his bedroom once more. He crouched next to the bed, leaving a soft kiss on Owen's forehead.

"Have a nice day, sweetheart... I love you..." He whispered, before quietly closing the door on his way out.

Chapter 17: Mutual consideration

Summary:

Owen and Louis take care of each other's pain.

"I'm home, honey!" Louis exclaimed as soon as his hand landed on the doorknob and he pushed the door open. He looked around the living room, searching for his partner. "Owen...?"

"Over here!" Owen's hand raised from the sofa. He was laying on it upside down, with his legs against the headrest and his head hanging down. Somehow, he made a conscious decision that it was comfortable for him to work on his woodcarving while positioned like this. Louis couldn't hold back a chuckle.

"Comfy?" He asked, crouching next to his partner and greeting him with a small kiss.

"Yeah, yeah, totally..." Owen muttered, but his face lit up after the kiss. 

"Owen...?" The mayor raised an eyebrow.

"Okay, fine... I can't find a comfortable position to do this," Owen admitted with a stupid smile. "I've been trying this whole morning, but, uh... I'm still getting used to the fact I'm no longer just skin and bones..."

"Oh, you poor, poor thing..." Louis snickered and gave him another kiss. "Your life is so hard now, isn't it? You poor, silly, chubby bat..."

"Hey, I'm not saying it's hard! It's just... It takes some getting used to." The lumberjack chuckled. His smile widened when Louis tossed his coat aside and took a seat right next to him. "Besides, don't tell me you don't love me like this..."

"Oh, I certainly do... I always love you, dear..." Louis whispered, pulling his fingers up Owen's thigh. "You're so delicious, I can't get enough of y-"

"Ouch!"

"Owen?!"

Turns out Owen's unconventional position had one more flaw. After he cut off a tiny piece of wood from his work, a scrap felt straight into his eye. He dropped his knife and his figurine, clutching his itching eye and sitting up.

"Ugh... Shit, that hurts..." He muttered. Immediately, the mayor grabbed him by the wrist and dragged him to the bathroom.

"Come on, we gotta get your eyes cleaned..."

Just a few moments later, they were both in the bathroom. Louis was carefully washing Owen's face, hoping for the water to wash off the debris. Owen whimpered in pain, his developing claws scratching against the sink - but eventually, he let out a sigh of relief when the pain vanished. Louis hugged him from behind, gently rubbing his cheeks to soothe the uncomfortable feeling. The lumberjack averted eye contact, a bit embarrassed about his little accident. But, as always, his lover was caring and understanding.

"Does it still hurt?" He asked, his thumb rubbing the skin right under Owen's eyes. "Can you see clearly?"

"I'm fine..."

"Are you sure? I can ask my friend to come check you out, he's a doctor-"

"I'm fine, Lou! I'm just..." Owen snickered. "Sorry I worried you so much..."

Louis didn't reply. Instead, he kept gently rubbing Owen's face, taking in just how soft and healthy it felt. It was no longer so cold and dry... He also noticed another thing that made him smile even brighter...

"Your eyebags..."

"What about them?"

"They faded a lot..." The elder vampire leaned in and kissed Owen's forehead. "That's wonderful news, honey... You're recovering so fast..."

"That means I should probably go back to working soon, huh...?" The lumberjack muttered, to which Louis frowned.

"I didn't say that..."

"I know you didn't, but- Let's be honest, Lou... Who would want a freeloader in their house...?"

"I do," the mayor replied. He leaned over, looking Owen straight in the eyes. "Sweetheart... You know I love you, right...?"

"But..." Owen muttered, squeezing his cheeks into his partner's hands. No matter how long they've been living together for, he was always so touchstarved, craving closeness... And Louis was willing to give him all that he needed.

"No 'buts', dearest," the elder vampire answered a bit too sharply. Seeing how Owen flinched, he added "I promise, you're always welcomed here... You don't have to go back to work, if you don't want to."

"I want to... If only to stay in shape, and not get bored..." He muttered. "But I can't leave the house now, can I...?"

Louis took a deep breath.

"I... I still need to figure out some things, honey. For our safety..." He put his forehead against Owen's. His skin was still wet from getting washed. "I promise, I won't keep you locked here forever..."

"Okay, okay, I trust you, Lou." Owen wrapped his arms around Louis' neck, pulling him into a tight hug. "Thank you..."

"It's nothing, sweeheart..."

"It is... It is a lot. To me."

---

Once Louis made sure that Owen was definitely feeling better, they returned to the living room to spend the rest of the afternoon together. Owen sat at the table to continue woodcarving, all the while Louis enjoyed his lunch. The fact that his partner refused to eat with him worried him a little, but he didn't want to start another argument. Maybe he already ate while he was away...?

The whole time, Louis could barely focus on his meal, as he kept watching Owen work. He was so handsome when he was focused... And since he was sitting still, the mayor could take a good, long look at his beautiful features. A bit of a stubble covered his chin, making him appear a bit older and mature. His long, curly hair was tied up into a messy bun, with a few strands falling into his eyes. And the slight, healthy blush that covered his cheeks and ears... The vampire just couldn't get enough of him. Especially when he thought back to Owen when he met him... His big, sad eyes, his scrawny, trembling hands... During their first meeting, Louis was convinced he wasn't even in his twenties. To learn that he was in fact twenty five was shocking to him... His illness made him look so much younger, but not in a good way. And now, when he finally got a chance to heal, he was blossoming like the most beautiful flower.

"Not hungry?" Owen commented with a smirk, noticing how his lover stared at him. Louis blinked, then let out a soft chuckle.

"Aren't you?"

"I'm fine..."

"Here," Louis reached out his fork, a piece of beef stuck at the end. "Creature of the night or not, you gotta eat."

"Fine, fine..." Owen sighed, then leaned forward and took the generously offered piece of meat. "Happy now?"

"Very..." Louis smiled. "Whatcha carving this time?"

"Can you guess?" Owen asked, sliding his newest work in his direction. The mayor squinted.

"Is it... A cat? Wait, no, it's a squirrel? Or a rabbit...?"

"It's a duck..." The lumberjack put on an exaggerated frown. "Is it that bad...?"

"It's not, I just- I didn't think of it! I'm sorry honey, it's really-" Louis paused once he noticed Owen couldn't hold back a giggle. "Wait... You're pulling my leg!"

"Oh, really?" The lumberjack stuck out his tongue, his fangs clicking open. "I know I can be sensitive, but come on..." He chuckled, then added "I know it's not very good... It's hard to do small details when your hands got messed up by leprosy..."

"You're still doing great, sweetheart." Louis reached over the table and patted his head. He then gestured towards a new shelf, set up right over the piano. "I even found some space for you to leave all of your works..."

Owen gasped.

"Oh gosh! Wait- You mounted it all by yourself?"

"I don't know why you take me for a guy that can't hold a hammer... I'm doing just fine with it! I only banged my finger twice..." Louis added with a silly smile, to which Owen burst out into laughter. 

"Oh, Lou... I love you..."

"As you should." The mayor got up after finishing his meal, walked up to his lover and gave him one more kiss. "Hmmm... Could you teach me to woodcarve, too...?"

"I- I mean, I guess I could... I'm not a good teacher, though..." Owen chuckled nervously.

"How do you know? Have you ever taught anyone anything...?"

"No, not really..."

"See?" Louis sat down right next to him. "It's gonna be fine! Come on, show me!"

"Okay, fine..."

Owen picked out a fresh piece of wood for Louis, then sat down with him. At first, he began explaining the basics, like what types of wood to use, how to hold a knife and how to move it. His partner, however, quickly found himself distracted. Owen was just so cute when he was serious and focused... The mayor could stare at him all day, just listening to him talk about anything. And when he took his partner's hands to demonstrate... Louis couldn't hold back a small whimper of pleasure. Maybe he was just feeling particularly needy that day, after not seeing his fledgling for a few hours. Having him so close all the time was just addicting.

"You got it?" Owen eventually asked. "Come on, you can try it now..."

Louis immediately gripped the knife and put it up to the piece of lumber. Even before he could start carving, Owen grabbed him by the wrist to stop him.

"Lou... You push the knife away, not towards yourself. If it slips, you can cut yourself like this. Were you even listening...?"

"I- I'm sorry, Owen! I just..." Louis took a deep breath. He promised to be honest with him... "I got a little... Distracted."

"Distracted? With what?"

"With... You..."

The lumberjack let out a quiet chuckle.

"You charmer..."

"I mean it! You're just so, so handsome, baby... It's really distracting."

"Mhm... Next time, I'll wrap my face in bandages so that you can't look at it." Owen teased and bopped Louis' nose. "How can someone as easily distractible as you be the mayor of Oakhurst...?"

"Hey, my attention span is just fine! When you're not around..."

"Oh, so it's my fault?" Owen's hand landed on Louis' thigh. His face got a little bolder as he closed in on his partner, his fangs poking out of his mouth. He enjoyed thoroughly as his partner's cheeks lit up with a bright red blush. "Maybe I should just take all of your attention, then..."

The lumberjack went straight for a kiss, and his partner didn't fight back. They pressed against each other, Louis' hands falling into Owen's hair and untying them. Owen put his hands on his lover's hips, stroking him gently. So much cuteness in such a sharp, slim frame... The fledgling was tempted to just pick up his sire, carry him to bed and take care of him there. But he didn't. He deepened the kiss a little, his stroking turning into squeezing, until he finally backed away with a deep, lustful sigh.

"Is this what you wanted?" He asked, his voice deep, his eyes dark and mysterious.

"Y-yes..." Louis squealed, his voice reaching notes it hasn't reached in centuries.

"Good..." Owen snickered, then sat back down on his chair. "You can get a lot more of that... If you show me that you actually listened," he gestured to the abandoned piece of wood and his knife. Louis puffed out his cheeks.

"You cruel man..."

Owen started laughing. His long, white hair fell into his face, and he shoved it away with a careless gesture.

"What can I say? I know how to get what I want..."

Owen watched with a dreamy smile as Louis attempted to repeat his woodcarving. Teasing his lover was one of his favorite things to do, no doubt. Once he figured out what Louis' boundaries were and what he could do to get a cute little reaction out of him, he could play with him for hours. He slumped on the chair, his eyes slowly closing as he listened to his partner murmuring to himself. Until, suddenly, he heard a whimper of pain.

"Ouch!"

"Lou?" Owen immediately sat straight. Even despite holding the knife correctly, his partner still managed to cut himself. "Oh, honey..."

"It's fine! It's gonna heal in a m- Owen...?"

The lumberjack took Louis' hands with a grin, then kissed the little cut on his finger. He then pulled his tongue over the wound, not breaking eye contact for even a second.

"Mmmm... You taste great..."

"Owen!" Louis feigned disgust, but in reality, he couldn't hold back laughter. "You're a freak!..."

"Better a freak than sick and dying, hm? You made me like this, mister..." The fledgling teased. He pulled his partner closer, before picking him off the ground. "I think that's enough woodcarving for you for one day..."

"I- If you say so..."

Louis clung to his lover's chest, letting him carry him away. It wasn't often that Owen took the initiative with flirting and intimacy... But every time it did, it was an incredible experience. And the feeling of being cuddled in his strong arms made the elder vampire's heart flutter. He pushed his nose against Owen's chest, inhaling his sweet scent. Maybe he was right, maybe he did need a break... Especially, if that meant spending it with the love of his life.

Notes:

Btw, next chapter is gonna be another character focused one...... I think you'll enjoy this one a lot :> Don't miss out!

Chapter 18: Shadow of the past

Summary:

Louis is reunited with someone he wishes he'd never see again.

Notes:

Oh my gosh this thing is at 6k hits already. And it's my 3rd most viewed fic on ao3 already! Wow! Thanks!

That day, Louis left the town hall earlier than usual. There was this sort of tension in the back of his head, one that he could only soothe by returning home to his beloved man. He couldn't recall the last time he felt like that; maybe Owen was right and he really was overworking himself? Even while heading home, he couldn't stop thinking about all of the responsibilities he would have to tend to soon. Their blood supply was running low, he had to restock soon... The house also was due for some cleaning. Maybe he could do it one morning while Owen was still sleeping, to not disturb him... The vampire looked up at the cloudy sky. Slowly, the days were beginning to get longer and warmer. He couldn't wait for the time when he could finally stop pretending that he needed a coat, and could put on something more comfortable. He longed for those warm, spring nights, especially if he could finally spend them with the man he adored more than anyone in the world...

Immediately after returning home, he was met with a familiar sound coming from the pantry. Louis couldn't hold back a chuckle. Clearly, Owen must've woken up, probably hungry... His lover probably had to have a little talk with him. It wasn't a bad thing that he was eating well now, not at all, but he also couldn't risk Owen getting sick... Although, even if he didn't want to admit it, the idea of tending to his sick partner sounded really enticing.

"You didn't wait with lunch for me?" The mayor smiled, pushing the door to the pantry open.

The next words, however, stuck in his words and he saw someone inside who wasn't Owen.

In the middle of the pantry, right on the ground, sat a familiar looking man. Dressed in a noble attire, outdated by a few centuries. Blood was dripping down his chin as he gorged himself on another bottle of crimson. The white of his hair faded, turning it into a more unfamiliar to Louis shade of blue. His eyes were a similar shade, a bit deeper, and with something deep and primal hidden deep within them. Louis took a step back at the sight, his hand tightening on the doorknob.

Finally, the incomer noticed him.

"Oh, look who it is!" He laughed, amused by the apparently unexpected encounter. The vampire spoke with quite a heavy accent, but Louis was already used to it; understanding him would not be a problem. Understanding why he came here, however... And how... "My favorite, and definitely not disappointing son, Louis Goldsmith... So you're the mayor of this little wretched town now, hm?"

"What are you-" Louis quickly glanced back. Since Owen wasn't in the pantry, nor in the kitchen or the living room, there was a high chance he was sleeping... He couldn't wake him up. Instead, he continued with a sharp whisper "What are you doing here, sire?! I- I thought you were... I thought you were gone!"

"Dead, you mean?" Louis' sire smirked, licking off blood from his fingers. "It's... Unbecoming of a Goldsmith to die. That being said, glad to see you too..." He murmured. He was still a bit woozy from his long, long nap, but his fledgling's intent was clear. He wasn't exactly pleased to see his sire.

"How did you even get here? I didn't invite you!"

Louis' whole body tensed. He already pictured this day as chill, quiet, spent together with his most beloved... And instead, he bumped into the most vile reminder of his past. A man he wished to never see again in his immortal life, and possibly the most divisive person he ever met... Scott Goldsmith. His sire.

"I thought you figured out that one already... A sire doesn't need to ask his fledglings for invitations." Scott shrugged, as if that was the most obvious thing in the world. "What, you want me to ask you for permission to enter your house? Pft..."

"Well, okay, you're here now," Louis took a deep breath, struggling to keep his emotions at bay. "You took my food, you made yourself at home- Can you leave now?"

"I literally just came..." Scott yawned. He still sat on the ground, a bit too sleepy to care about his presentation. "I wanted to check out how my favorite fledgling is doing..."

"Stop it," the mayor growled. "Don't call me that. We both know it's not true."

"Ugh, you're always sooo uptight and serious..." Finally, his elder got up from the ground. He was a bit shorter than Louis, but carried himself with a lot more grace and confidence. "I thought you'd finally loosen up a bit in the... What, four hundred years, since we've seen each other? You know, start your own coven, get yourself some fledglings to worship you, all that-"

"Louis...?"

The mayor flinched and immediately turned around. Owen was standing just a few feet behind him, only draped in one of Louis' shirts, and underwear. He looked so cute and sleepy like that... But Louis was not in the right headspace to appreciate that right now. He was going into full panic mode already. His sire came unannounced to his house, started eating out his stash... And now, he could get into Owen's head. This day couldn't possibly get worse...

"Louis, who's that...?" The lumberjack asked quietly, a bit startled by the sight of a stranger in their house. He didn't look like anyone Owen recognized from Oakhurst... Maybe he came from the Capital, or one of the rich cities up north? Those deep, blue eyes held so much mystery and power... When they met with Owen's eyes, the stranger put on a big, curious grin.

"Would you look at that... You did get more fledglings after abandoning me, huh?" Scott took a few steps towards Owen, but Louis shielded him with his body.

"Back off," he let out an angry, possessive growl.

"Oh calm down, you big baby, I ain't doing anything bad... I just wanna have a look!" Scott shoved his fledgling out of the way. Louis almost forgot just how much strength his sire possessed... He could only watch in horror as Scott took the hand of clearly intimidated Owen, and pulled him a bit closer. "Look at you... What a pretty, strong pup... Louis' been taking good care of you, hm?"

"W- well, I mean, uh... Yeah...?"

Owen glanced in Louis' direction, to silently check on him. There was something empty and uncomfortable in his eyes, the way he looked at this stranger... Only then, it finally clicked in the fledgling's head. The way the man spoke about him made it clear that he was, in fact, another vampire... Was he Louis' sire...? The same one his lover refused to ever talk about, aside from calling him a bad man? He didn't seem all too bad... Maybe a bit handsy, but he didn't seem dangerous... Maybe he could entertain him for just a little longer, to take him off Louis' back.

"Mmm... Good, good..." Scott looked up and down his newly met grandfledgling. He really was a cutie... His huge, dark eyes were so full of curiosity... And his silhouette was a lot more proper than Louis' skinny frame. "How about you tell me a bit more, hm? I've been dying to met my son's new fledgling..."

"No, sire, that's enough." Louis stepped in and grabbed Scott's wrist. "I don't want you talking to him. I already asked you to leave, and-"

"Louis, it's... It's fine," Owen put on a slightly unnerved smile.

"Owen...?"

"You look tired... You should go lay down, I'll talk with him," Owen proposed. He gave his partner a little kiss on the cheek, then whispered, so that Scott wouldn't hear "I'll deal with him, and get him to leave..."

"Owen, I don't want him to-"

"It's fine, Louis, I've got this..." The lumberjack put his forehead against Louis' in a sweet, intimate gesture. His sire sighed.

"Okay... Just... Please, be careful..."

Louis reluctantly let go of Scott's wrist. He shot his own sire one last warning glance, before heading back to his bedroom. Once the door clicked close, the elder vampire let out a heavy sigh.

"Finally..." He muttered. "Is he always like this?"

"Well, usually, he's... In a better mood," Owen admitted quietly. Before he could add something, however, Scott's face lit up.

"Come on, you gotta tell me more about yourself... About the both of you, actually," he said, before dragging Owen into the pantry. Immediately, he picked up one of the full bottles and handed it to Owen. "You really are a gorgeous little thing... Do you have a name, sweetie?"

The lumberjack shivered. He got used to Louis calling him pet names, and he loved it... But someone else calling him that made him a bit queasy. But it's fine, he could deal with this... Just long enough that Louis' sire gets bored and leaves.

"I'm... I'm Owen. Owen Miller."

"Owen! What a beautiful name for a cute fledgling..." Scott rolled a stray lock of Owen's hair on his finger. "Owen Goldsmith... Mmm, that sounds wonderful..."

"Goldsmith...?"

"Oh, Louis didn't mention me, did he? Of course he didn't..." The elder vampire sighed, sitting back on the ground. "The name's Scott, Scott Goldsmith. Although I'd rather you call me sire..."

"O- Of course, sire..." Owen sat down next to him. That last name, Goldsmith... It rang a bell, but Owen couldn't exactly put a finger on it. "So, you're Louis' sire..."

"Reluctantly, yes..." Scott agreed, before opening another bottle. "Although, it's a bit disheartening... You take in a man, take care of him, teach him everything... Only for him to abandon you and never even mention you, in the four hundred years you didn't talk..." Owen shivered at the realization. Four hundred years... Louis and Scott haven't talked for four centuries. No wonder Louis was so unnerved... But that put another question in the lumberjack's head. Just how old was Scott...? And Louis, for that matter...? "But, that can wait! I'm dying to learn a bit more about my fledgling's fledgling..." Scott smirked, once again taking Owen's hand. "Come on, tell me everything..."

"Everything...?"

"Oh, you don't have to be so shy... Louis taught you to be like that, didn't he?" Scott snickered.

"No, no, he didn't, he's... He's very nice to me. He took me in, he took care of me, he... Saved my life."

"Oh did he...?"

"Yes, I was... I was very sick." Owen slowly lifted the sleeve of his shirt. Scott winced at the sight of all the scars covering his skin. "I had leprosy, I didn't have much time left... Louis offered to heal me by turning me into a vampire... And then, he just allowed me to... Stay here."

"Oh, how nice of him..." Leprosy, huh? Scott thought to himself. A poor man's illness... I could swear this guy felt like a nobleman... Well, maybe the standards changed while I was gone. "How long ago was that?"

"About... Half a year, I think...?"

"Half a year? Oh, so you're really just a pup, aren'tcha?" Scott smirked and pulled on his cheek in a babying gesture. "Well, I guess I should've guessed, looking at you..."

"Wh- What's wrong with how I look?" Owen asked with a nervous smile. He still clutched the bottle of blood in his hands, still undecided whether to open it. He was pretty sure he snuck out in the middle of the night to eat something, but the memory was fuzzy.

"Nothing's wrong, geez! Listen, when you've been doing this for as long as I have, you notice some... Things." Scott patted Owen's cheek. His smile faded a little. "You're not of noble status, are you?"

"N- No... I'm just a lumberjack," Owen admitted, averting eye contact. Was that going to be a problem...?

"Well, that's a bummer..." Scott rolled his eyes, before finishing his bottle of crimson. "But you look good for a poor commoner, you know?"

"Uh... Thank you...?" The fledgling murmured, equal parts amused and surprised by the sentiment. "So, uh... If I may ask-"

"Sure!" The sire moved a bit closer to him "What do you wanna know, pretty thing...?"

"How did you meet Louis...? And how did he get turned...?"

Scott's smile faded completely. He took the bottle out of Owen's hands and uncorked it. "He hasn't told you, has he?"

"No, he hasn't..."

"Well, I won't spoil you the fun then..." Scott snickered, before adding "Let me just tell you this... I didn't expect to find a poor, wounded little thing on the doorstep to my castle one day... I still don't know why I took him in. Must've drank too much that day..."

"Oh... Right." Louis already alluded to the fact that his turning was an accident... So he wasn't exaggerating...?

"Still, he could've been a bit more grateful... I gave him a home, I helped him feel more comfortable in his skin... And in turn, he embarrassed me in front of everyone, and then abandoned me! What a joke..." Scott chuckled bitterly. "Don't ever have children, Owen. Terrible decision."

"Children...? He's your...?"

"Huh? Goodness, no! I could never have my own children, that would ruin my figure..." Scott sighed dramatically. "But if you ever get your own fledglings... Make sure they're grateful. Otherwise, they're just gonna abandon you the first chance they get."

"I- I will never abandon Louis," Owen immediately argued back. "Louis is the most important man in my life, I... I..." Owen paused. Should he say it...? He was no longer ashamed of admitting that, but that was different... Scott was Louis' sire, after all. Would he get upset...? "I... I love him. With all my heart."

Scott's smile slowly returned. How cute... Maybe a bit naive. But still cute. After all, he's only been a vampire for about half a year, he needed time to experience it properly... Although, judging by his white hair, he already had his first taste of human blood.

"You love him..." Scott put a slightly heavier accent on 'love', before letting out a soft giggle. "Well, I don't doubt that... Just know that vampiric love is very... Specific."

"I- I can imagine. Everything I've done like this is very... Specific." Owen admitted quietly. "But... I like it like that. I have a home, a man I love, I'm... I'm happy like this." His voice got a bit more serious, and he finally met Scott's gaze. "And Louis is happy with me. We can make it last... I'm sure of it."

"Well, good luck with that... Although, since he had so much luck to find such a level-headed man as you, Owen..." Scott grinned and handed him the half-full bottle of blood. "Maybe you'll finally be able to fix him."

"He doesn't need fixing." Owen muttered, but accepted the bottle and began drinking from it. Ignoring Scott's stare was hard, but he still managed to finish the bottle and put it aside. 

Soon, Scott lifted himself off the ground and began stretching his arms. That nice little snack was just what he needed after waking up... He would've loved to stay a bit longer and chat with Owen. But it's not like he didn't have his own business to tend to... He's been gone for four hundred years, after all. He needed to have a little reconnaissance, see what changed in all this time... Once he saw Owen getting up as well, he grabbed his hand once more.

"It's been a pleasure to meet..." Scott whispered, before taking Owen's wrist and leaving a shallow vampiric bite on his wrist. The lumberjack tensed, but didn't fight back. It was just a little mark, it would fade with time... And if that gets Scott to leave... "If you ever feel like visiting your grandsire, I live in a castle north of here. You can't miss it."

"I... I might. Thank you, sire."

"Now, would you mind opening the window for me? It's easier to leave that way," he asked with a cheeky grin.

Owen immediately approached one of the windows in their living room and opened it. Before he could even say goodbye, Scott already transformed into a bat and dashed away. The lumberjack watched after him for a few moments, then closed the door and headed straight to the bedroom.

"Louis...?"

His partner was sitting in bed, curled up, with his back to the door. He was shaking... Did the brief encounter with Scott really mess him up this much? But why? His fledgling sat at the edge of the bed and put his hand on his partner's shoulder. Immediately, he tensed and moved away from the touch.

"What did he tell you?" Louis asked quietly. 

Owen was quiet, unsure what to say. The mayor looked so stressed... His eyes were empty, his hands were trembling. Maybe staying with Scott was a mistake, as it only worried him further... He just wanted to deescalate a possible conflict. But instead, he felt as if he hurt the most beloved man in his life.

"He said... Nothing that makes me feel differently about you," Owen said truthfully. "You wanna cuddle...?"

"I... No. I don't feel like cuddling right now... I'm sorry."

"It's okay..." Owen smiled gently, moving away a little to give Louis space. "Do you want me to leave you alone...?"

"...yes."

"No problem..." Owen slowly got up from the bed, grabbing his knife and his latest woodcarving. "I'll make you some tea, how about that?"

"Thanks, Owen..."

"Always, Lou."

The mayor looked after his lover for a moment. He didn't mind that he needed some time for himself, did he...? Truth be told, Louis wasn't sure when he would feel okay again. Seeing his sire again really shook him. His whole body felt cold and dirty with shame he couldn't just wash away. And putting on another mask didn't feel like an option right now... He just needed some time to process. Slowly, Louis slid into his bed, covering himself tightly with a blanket. It wasn't all too long before he drifted into light, exhausting sleep, full of reminders of his past.

Notes:

THE BLUE THING IS BACK /ref

(also, before you ask - Owen's last name is just my headcanon, it wasn't confirmed anywhere)

Chapter 19: All the words you never said

Summary:

Louis is still shaken after his encounter with his sire. Owen is there to soothe his worries.

Notes:

Oh lord how is this thing at almost 7k hits already. We just hit 6k how.

Also, a quick important info before we start! If you want to support my work, please check out this link!

The whole day after Scott's unexpected arrival, Louis didn't leave his bed for even a moment. He also didn't leave it through the next day. The whole time, he just laid there, motionless, staring at the ceiling during the day and at the window during the night. He was also not much for talking; he replied to whatever Owen asked of him, but his words were dry, lacking his usual energy and peppiness. Owen tried staying quiet and calm, leaving him as much space as possible, while also checking up on him frequently. There were a few empty cups of tea on his nightstand; he refused to drink any blood or eat anything. He didn't even respond to any touch from Owen... Something must've really shaken him.

His conversation with Scott couldn't slip Owen's mind. Scott was a bit rude to his fledgling, sure, with how he shoved him out of his way the moment he saw the lumberjack, but... What could he have possibly done for Louis to retreat into his shell so much? It wasn't just the mayor's worry about his sire meeting his new grandfledgling, was it? But every time Owen tried asking, his lover just curled up more tightly and stayed quiet. Owen was worried sick of him. He completely stopped eating, and he didn't seem to be sleeping much. What if he got actually, physically sick from this encounter...?

Another night fell upon Oakhurst, when Owen entered the bedroom with a fresh cup of tea. He set it on the nightstand, then stood over the bed, looking down at his partner. His hair was a mess, the very roots slowly returning to their natural, ginger color. His eyes were darked, glued to some spot far out in the night sky. Louis flinched when Owen's hand landed on his arm, letting out a startled hiss.

"Lou..." The fledgling sat down at the edge of the bed. "What's happening...?"

"Is he gone...?"

"Yes, Lou, he left yesterday... And he won't come back," Owen promised.

"How do you know? He's... He's Scott Goldsmith, he can do anything he wants..." The vampire chuckled nervously. The usual charisma in his voice was gone, replaced with doubt and insecurity. "He just... Entered my house without even asking..."

"Well, it's also my house now, right? And I'm not directly his fledgling... If I don't want him here, there's nothing he can do about it, right?"

"I... Maybe... I don't know..." Louis sighed and turned on his back, before covering his eyes with his forearm. "Ugh... I'm sorry, sweetheart, I just... I'm not feeling well..."

"I figured," Owen smiled gently, moving his hand up Louis' arm, to his shoulder, neck, and resting it on his cheek. "I'm just worried, Lou, I... I don't know what this man did to you, but you don't deserve to suffer... You're not under his thumb anymore..."

"What he did to me...?" The mayor chuckled nervously. "Oh, what didn't he do, Owen, he..." He slowly lifted his hand, uncovering his puffy, red eyes. "He... Helped me... Become this. Without him, I would never get a chance to meet you... I shouldn't be so ungrateful, should I...?"

Owen got up from the bed, then knelt right next to it, to be on Louis' eye level. The elder vampire turned over, his deep, dark eyes staring at Owen with so much unspoken pain and regrets... The sight was ripping Owen's heart in half. He didn't have the right words to help him, but maybe if he could somehow soothe his pain...

"You're not being ungrateful..." The fledgling grabbed Louis' hand and squeezed it. "He did bad things to you, besides that, didn't he...?"

"He... He did..."

"It's not like he could treat you poorly, because he was nice to you once... He helped you, but he also hurt you. You're not wrong for being upset about this..."

"I didn't even want to turn into a vampire in the first place..." Louis chuckled bitterly. "Heck, I had no idea vampires even existed before... Before I became one of them... And then, I just had no choice but to stay at his castle... Only because he was too drunk to realize what he was doing!"

"I'm sure that-"

"And he made me feel like it was my fault?!" The mayor sat up on the bed, his eyes lighting up red. His voice changed completely. Usually, it was quiet, calm and soft - this time, it was full of all the anger and disdain for the man that caused him to be here in the first place. Tears welled up in his eyes. "For a hundred years, every day, I had to listen to him talking about how it was a mistake, and how I shouldn't be here! That turning me ruined his reputation! Because he turned some sort of poor village gal instead of another rich, stupid nobleman! And it's my fault?!"

"Poor village- what...? Wait, Louis-"

"So what was his way of 'correcting' his mistake? He tried making me into a copy of himself! First, he started by getting me into a skin that was comfortable, that made me feel like an actual person-" his claws tightened on his arms, tears streaking down his cheeks. "And then, he didn't stop! He just kept pushing, and pushing, and pushing- And nothing mattered to him! I didn't matter to him! He just wanted to have a mini Scott Goldsmith who would always say yes to him! And what about me?!" 

Louis suddenly turned to Owen, his eyes full of hatred and disdain. The fledgling actually flinched a little. He's never seen his partner this angry... He actually did look like he could do something bad at that moment. To himself, to Owen... Which only reinforced Owen's belief that he needed to stay with him, and see this through. If there was a chance he could prevent any further harm, he would.

After a few more sharp, rapid breaths, the energy fled from the mayor's eyes. The look in his partner's eyes, so full of worry; but also, of genuine love and care for him... He immediately felt bitter and insecure about his outburst.

"I... I'm sorry, Owen... I never wanted you to see... This." He whispered.

"Hey... You told me once that I shouldn't deny my emotions, even if they're negative, right...?" Owen slowly sat back up on the bed. "That also applies to you..."

"But... Usually, I'm better than this, I don't just... Blow up like that..."

"You don't have to be better than anything now... You can just be angry, if you want to..." Owen whispered, taking his partner's hands. "I won't love you any less for that... And you won't be any less of a good person..."

The mayor pulled his knees close to his chest. There was this ache in his chest, that he wanted to get rid of as soon as possible. Like hot tar, sticking his lungs together, not allowing him to take a full, deep breath. At least his eyes were no longer stinging as much... And his body didn't feel so foreign and empty, once Owen touched him.

"Do you want me to brush your hair?" Owen suggested with a shy smile "It's... A bit of a mess, and maybe that will help you feel better..."

Louis held his breath for a second. He shouldn't, he should be better than this, he should have this under control-

"The brush is in the nightstand drawer."

"On it."

Owen handed his partner the freshly made tea, before pulling out the brush and beginning to comb his hair. It was a bit tangled, from how much he tossed and turned in his bed. The fledgling tried his best to be gentle, and to not pull at any knots that got in his way. He could feel just how tense Louis still was. At least he was drinking his tea, he wouldn't get dehydrated from crying... Although it was still another task, to get him to eat something. Owen didn't want to blame his poor mental state on hunger, but it definitely wasn't making Louis feel any better.

"Your hair is so nice..." The lumberjack whispered, before pushing his nose into it and sniffing it. "It smells great..."

Louis couldn't hold back a snicker.

"What are you doing, Owen...?"

"Appreciating my wonderful, cute boyfriend... What, is that a crime?"

"No, no, not at all..." Louis sighed.

"You know, if you need to ramble some more, I'll listen..."

"I just- Ugh, how could he have done this? Four hundred years of no contact, and he suddenly just barges into my house, eats from my pantry, I just- What is wrong with this guy?!" Louis growled, his hands clenching on the warm cup.

"Maybe he thought four hundred years meant you forgot...? I- I'm not trying to excuse him, just-"

"He doesn't care about what I think or feel. He never did... Well, except for when he... Ugh..." Louis grumbled, taking another sip of his tea. "I almost wish he didn't help me... Then, hating him would be so much... Easier."

Owen nodded, while calculating everything he knew in his head. They haven't talked in four hundred years, and Louis mentioned living with Scott for another hundred years before that... Which made his partner five hundred years old, at the very least. Five hundred years... Louis was older than most of the trees in the nearby forests. It was almost impossible to believe... But how old did that make Scott, then?

"He did break me once..." Louis whispered. "During one of his stupid parties for his friends, he made me... He made me turn one of them. It was the worst thing ever, I... The way everyone looked at us... That guy was so gross..." A full-body shiver crossed the mayor's frame, almost making him drop his cup. "Just because he wanted to be turned by someone 'young and cute'... The next time Scott proposed that I turn someone, I... I said no. He was furious..."

"Did he beat you...?"

"Beat me...? He beat me, screamed at me, he was... Never like that before," the mayor chuckled bitterly. "Usually he was more... Subtle than that. But I made him snap, and I paid the price..."

"And what happened after...?"

"I did what I had to... I ran. That was the last time I saw him. Until... Until now."

A quiet growl escaped Owen. And to think for a second, he thought that Louis' reaction was a bit much, compared to how Scott acted... He wanted to punch himself for ever doubting the validity of his lover's feelings. But not now. Louis' comfort took priority over his own anger.

"I just wish... It's stupid, but if he was always like this, it'd be so much easier to hate him..." the elder vampire whispered. "But every time I do, I immediately think of the good things he did, and I feel so... Ungrateful, and rotten..."

"He hurt you, Lou... You are allowed to be upset at him..." Owen set the brush aside. He wrapped his arms around Louis' shoulders, pulling him into a hug "And doing one good thing would not make up for that... It's like..." He weighed his words for a second, then added "The people of Oakhurst, they... Ostracized me, called me names, yelled at me and ridiculed me... There were some rare times when someone was nice to me, but... But that doesn't make up for the harm. Nothing can, I think... Scott wouldn't try to excuse himself, or make up for what he did, would he...?"

"He would try to excuse himself..." Louis muttered, before correcting himself "No, he would... He would do what he always did. He'd tell me it's fine, that I'm fine, that I'm just overthinking things... I wasn’t."

"See? You get it..." Owen leaned a bit closer and gave him a little kiss on the cheek. "You're smarter than his stupid words..."

"Am I...?"

"You are!" Owen grabbed his hand and squeezed it once more "I promise, if I ever see him again, I- I'll rip his throat out, for ever talking to you like this!"

"Don't..." Louis giggled. "He's a jackass, but... If you tried to fight him, he would kill you. I'd rather just avoid him for the rest of my life, instead of having both of you dead..."

"Awwww..." The fledgling cooed "Are you saying you love me more than you hate him...?"

"I... I do." Louis chuckled quietly, before lifting Owen's hands and kissing them. "I still hate his guts, but... At least I had a chance to meet you... You just make everything so much better, you know...?"

"It's one of my many talents..." Owen hummed with a tinge of playful pride, before giving his partner another kiss. "Feeling any better...?"

"A lot..." Louis sighed and leaned into his fledgling's arms. "Thank you..."

"Always, Lou." Owen hugged him tightly, then started to purr loudly to relieve the last of the tension in Louis' body. "You need something right now...?"

"Blood..." The mayor almost whined. "I'm... So hungry, man..."

"I imagined... It probably didn't help your state, did it?" Owen giggled, before wrapping his arms around Louis' chest. "You're already a skinny little thing, we don't need you getting even smaller..."

"Oh, you..." Louis giggled, before tilting his head back a little, earning a kiss to the top of his head. "Either way, I have to replenish our stash soon..."

"You need help with that?"

"No, no, it's better I do it alone. It's safer, and won't drive much attention..." Seeing his lover pout a little, he added "Trust me on it, okay? I know what I'm doing."

"I know... You always do, Lou..." Owen purred, his hands travelling up and down his partner's sides. "I love you..."

"I love you too, Owen..."

After a few more moments of gently cuddling, Owen finally got up from the bed and into the kitchen, to get them something to drink. Louis fell back on his bed with a heavy sigh. He wasn't completely fine just yet, far from it, but... Owen was clearly okay with that. He was willing to give his partner the space and time he needed to process. He still didn't know everything... And Louis intended to keep it that way. At least until he was completely sure that nothing would pull them apart.

Notes:

Just a quick clarification in case things get misinterpreted: no, the implication isn't that Scott forcibly transitioned Louis. Louis was always a trans man, and the details of his backstory will be specified soon. Scott helped him transition to a point where Louis was comfortable with himself, but after that, he tried using that influence to change him as a person. It's not that Scott made him a trans man! I hope I don't have to spell it out for everyone but just so that we're clear about that.

Chapter 20: Home at home

Summary:

Owen does his best to support his partner during the time he needs it most.

Notes:

Welp, this thing is at 7k hits. And it's close to becoming my #2 most viewed fic. Damn. Thanks so much for all the support! The next few chapters will be a bit more fluffy again, and after that, we're back with more story driven ones :3

Even days after Louis' bad episode, Owen stayed vigilant about his partner's mental state. He still noticed that the mayor wasn't quite back to his old, peppy, upbeat self. He was quiet, more withdrawn, often staring into the distance with a solemn expression on his pretty, youthful face. Whenever Owen pointed it out, Louis would just let out a soft sigh and drag himself back into reality. Still, it didn't take him long to drift off again, somewhere into his memories. Somewhere he didn't want to return.

Owen had to do something about it.

One afternoon, Louis was going back home from the town hall, his stare still glued to the horizon. He could barely focus on his work; at least he was aware that the other people were beginning to notice. Were they actually worried about him? No, definitely not... They liked their mayor for all that he did for Oakhurst, sure. But not to this point. None of them knew him well enough to know what's happening to him. Not that Louis minded... When he decided to start blending in and living with the humans, he knew fully well he would never be able to fully relate to them. Or have them fully relate to him. That was his price for this vague sense of belonging. Well, now he had one person he belonged with... But he couldn't just put all of his worries on Owen, right? He had his own life, his own worries and struggles... He deserved so much better than to take care of his partner all the time. Louis would never want to burden him with all this, despite all of his assurances.

Once Louis returned home, he found it completely quiet and empty. Usually, Owen resided in the living room, either carving something at the table, or sleeping on their sofa. This time however, he was nowhere to be seen.

"Owen...?"

Louis approached the door to the bedroom. They were closed... Was he just napping in their bed? He gently knocked on the door.

"Louis?"

"Who else?" The mayor chuckled. "Can I come in?"

"Give me a minute, I'm not ready!"

"O- Okay...?"

Louis took off his coat and slumped on the sofa with a sigh. It felt a bit bare, all of the pillows and blankets vanished somewhere. What was Owen doing? Was he just changing his clothes? No, he wouldn't mind Louis walking on him then, he never did... Was he hiding something? The mayor's memories returned to the time when he hid his garlic addiction, and the fight that broke out between them due to that. He didn't relapse, did he...? He was acting fairly normal lately, but if he started taking it again... Louis wouldn't bear to watch his partner's state worsen again, not when he needed him so much...

Then, the door swung open.

"You can come in!" Owen exclaimed with a big smile. 

The lumberjack was dressed in a shirt that was far too large for him (Louis wasn't even sure where he dug it out from), shorts and socks. He almost looked like a little kid who just finished rummaging through his parents' closet. And that big, excited grin on his face... For some reason, that didn't calm Louis down.

"Honey? Are you okay...?"

"I am...?" Owen squinted. "Why are you asking? I'm feeling great-"

"Oh no, Owen, please, not again..." Louis lunged up from the sofa and grabbed his partner by the cheeks. "You can't be taking these again! It's not good for you! You gotta throw these out, and... And..."

Louis paused, when his eyes diverted from Owen's face. They traveled inside of the room, which was lit up with dim candlelight. Over the bed, there were a few blankets set up like a makeshift canopy. Pillow and quilts were formed into a cosy little nest underneath, where a few books and bottles of blood awaited them. The mayor's hands slowly moved away from his partner.

"What is this...?"

"It's my nest!" Owen grinned "And you're invited! Your sire isn't, so... He can't find you there!"

"You..." Louis gasped.

"We have some snacks and drinks, your favorite books... I can get us something more, if you need it! You like it...?" Owen asked. He turned to his partner, but his smile faded when he saw his expression, and the tears welling up in his eyes. "Louis...?"

The mayor stood frozen in place, his eyes glued to the cosy nest. That explained the missing blankets and pillows in the living room... He quickly rubbed his eyes, to hide any tears that made their way up there.

"It looks so nice..." He whispered, approaching the bed. "How much time did you spend on this...?"

"The whole day! Well, more like, half a day... You like it?"

"I do... It's lovely."

"Come on, you gotta come in and check it out!" 

Once Louis took off his shoes and unbuttoned his shirt, Owen dragged him straight to the nest. As cosy as it felt, it was pretty cramped - when laying down, the mayor had to bend over a little and make some space for his partner to fit. Owen curled up next to him, immediately beginning to comb his short claws through Louis' hair. His big, brown eyes were glued to his lover's face.

"I... I'm sorry I blew up at you like that..." Louis muttered. "I was just... A bit scared that you relapsed."

"Relapsed... Oh! You mean the garlic?" Owen couldn't hold back a laugh. "You're so unused to me being happy, you thought I drugged myself again?"

"It's not that, I just... Just... I'm being too sensitive again, aren't I...?"

"Maybe a little..." Owen hummed, then reached out to leave a soft peck on his cheek. "How are you feeling, Lou...?"

"A bit tired..." The elder vampire sighed. "It's been a long day, and I can't stop thinking about... Him..."

"Hey, hey hey hey" Owen's hands landed on Louis' cheeks, forcing his sight to not drift away "Don't go there. I'm here, I gotchu... You don't have to think about that jerk anymore."

"I'm trying..." Louis slumped into Owen's arms. "I thought I already got over him... It's been four hundred years, for crying out loud..."

"Well, he straight up came into your house... I don't blame you for freaking out... But! He can't come here. You're safe here, and you can stay however long you want. Got it?"

"I can't... I have a job, Owen..." The mayor snickered.

"Well, I don't care! All of that can wait."

Owen wrapped his arms around Louis' chest, holding him in place and not allowing him to wake up. His lover didn't even try to fight back. He loved the feeling of his strong, warm arms, wrapped around his chest... He leaned a little closer, letting his fledgling envelop him fully.

"There, there..." Owen hummed. "I gotchu... Do you need anything...?"

"No... Just you..."

"I'm right here, Lou..."

The elder vampire closed his eyes, letting soft purring erupt from his chest. That was a nice change... For hundreds of years, he was the one taking care of others. Finally, it changed. He had someone to lean on, someone who he could tell all that he needed to. Even if it felt scary to open up like this, to offer his heart on a silver platter and risk having it ripped into pieces... No, Owen wouldn't. He would never. Those giant, gentle eyes carried so much love and care in them... Louis would give the world to him, if he only could.

"Lou...?" Owen whispered at some point.

"Yes...?"

"I... I wasn't your first fledgling, was I...? You mentioned Scott making you turn someone... Was there someone else in between...?"

Louis hung his head low.

"You don't have to tell me if you don't-"

"There were... A few people. Six... You're my seventh." Louis chuckled bitterly and put his hand on Owen's cheek. "My lucky seven..."

"Do you still remember these other guys...?"

"I do... You can't just forget your fledglings. The second you turn them, they're a part of you... You can never forget their names, and their faces."

The lumberjack furrowed his brows.

"Where are they now...?"

"Who knows...? I... I never had a fledgling stay with me for longer than a few months..." Louis sighed and put his head on Owen's shoulder. "I helped these people, and hoped they would stay... They never did. Once they knew how to take care of themselves, how to survive... They all left, sooner or later. Which, I guess, is fair... If that's how it has to be, then..."

The elder vampire bit his lip. Was that going to happen to Owen too? Even with all the love they shared- Leaving their nest was natural for vampires. He himself would've done it earlier, if it wasn't for the fear of Scott's retribution. But if Owen would want to leave one day... He wouldn't hold him back. Even if that hurt, as if someone pierced a wooden stake through his heart... Keeping Owen by force would hurt even worse. He just had to brace himself for that day...

"Jerks," Owen scoffed. "Did they even say goodbye?"

"No... Most of them didn't."

Owen pulled his lover a bit closer. He reached over to one of the bottles of blood, then began uncorking it. The idea that Louis' fledgling were so ungrateful, they would just abandon him like that... It was ridiculous to him. Who in their right mind wouldn't want to be with this sweet, kind, gentle man? Owen couldn't imagine anything he'd like more than to stay with Louis forever, if he was only permitted to...

"You want some blood?"

"Not now..."

"Fine, I'll take this one then..."

Comfortable silence settled over them, only disturbed by the sounds of Owen gulping down blood. The way he always gorged himself, like he was always hungry... With time, it stopped worrying Louis, and became more so amusing to him. It was just natural to him, to eat a bit more than his lover... At least he was healthy now. When they snuggled at night, his body finally started giving off heat, and quite a bit of it. Owen still spent a lot of time napping, at last coming to terms with his now much safer circumstances. And the sight warmed his unbeating heart.

"Aren't you hungry?" Owen asked after finishing his bottle.

"Not really... I don't eat much," Louis admitted. "I just don't feel like it sometimes. Besides, I need to replenish our stash..."

"If you want me to limit myself, you can just say-"

"I don't think I can," Louis giggled. "You always just kinda do what you want..."

"I don't!" Owen grumbled, feigning offense "You told me to stay home, and I did!"

"Oh, yeah, you're so considerate..." The mayor teased. "But you wouldn't take as easily to having to drink a little less, would you?"

"I mean... If I had to..."

"I'll take care of it... Tomorrow. I promise. I have to contact someone to help me, and-"

Immediately, Owen tensed.

"Who...? Do they know about you? About... Us...?"

Louis sighed softly, then hid his nose in Owen's hair.

"I wish we could be completely self-sufficient, but... There are people who help me from time to time," he eventually admitted. "And they knows about you, yes... But I'm only telling them what he needs to know. They only want to help. They'd never hurt a vampire."

"I don't trust them... But I trust you." Owen grumbled, before leaning closer to Louis.

"That's enough, dearest..."

Owen was supposed to be the one taking care of Louis this time - but with how warm and cosy their nest was, he couldn't help but get a little sleepy. He hugged his partner tightly, watching as he picked out one of the stocked up books and began reading. Owen's eyes trailed along the text, but he felt just a little too hazy and tired, he couldn't make any sense of it. He could get his number puzzle booklet and turn his attention over to that, but his whole body felt too heavy and comfy to move.

"Going to sleep?" Louis asked him with a gentle smile.

"Mmmm..." Owen murmured. His eyes opened once he heard Louis' heavy sigh. "Something's wrong...?"

"No, I was just... Thinking... You're probably pretty bored, just sitting at home all day, aren't you...?"

"Maybe a little... But- But I can take care of myself! I clean the place, I carve, I nap, and... That's about it..." He muttered, his eyes darting towards the window. As much as he wanted to listen to Louis, he couldn't wait to go outside again, without worrying about anyone spotting him and figuring out his secret... But he couldn't, and it was all his own fault. He just had to deal with the consequences of his own actions. Owen put his hand in his long, white hair, and sighed heavily. He had no one to blame for his state, but himself.

"I'll figure something out, dearest, I promise, I just... Need to think of how to deal with this, and-"

"It's fine, Lou..."

"Is it...?"

"Of course! I'll wait however long you need... Although, I'm afraid I might get a bit too comfy in your bed," he giggled, pushing his body against Louis'. "And then what...?"

"Then it'll be easier to keep you here and cuddle with you all day..." Louis smirked, wrapping his arms around Owen and squishing his sides. "Not that I'd mind..."

"I can imagine that," Owen teased, sticking his tongue out in a playful manner.

Not too long after, Owen was back to drifting off to sleep. He snuggled against his lover, seeking any comfort he could, along with giving Louis all of his love and attention. He wished he could just make everything easy, take all this baggage and responsibility off Louis' shoulders... But he couldn't, at least not yet. Maybe one day, they will finally be able to be fully happy together, and not care about anything in the world. Maybe his dreams would finally be reality one day... And as he thought of that, he drifted back there again, back to the world where they had nothing to worry about.

Chapter 21: Back in the nest

Summary:

Louis goes out to replenish his blood supply. He meets up with an old friend, and someone who he never expected to see again.

Notes:

We were supposed to go into fluff territory, but I needed to write this first. But now, I can promise some more fluff soon :3

It was just before sunrise, when Louis got up from his bed. He dressed up, brushed his hair, gave Owen a little peck on the cheek and a promise that he'll be back soon, then he left his house.

The town has not risen from its sleepy state just yet. The streets were empty, hum coming only from certain homes. The sky was tinted a peachy grey, thanks to thick clouds that gathered over the town. A perfect day for doing what he had to do. No one would disturb him, no one would know.

Once he arrived at his destination, Louis knocked on the door. He came to a small apartment, situated just above the Oakhurst's doctor office. He waited for a moment, before he heard the voice inviting him over. With a heavy sigh, he pushed the door open and entered.

"Hope I didn't wake you up, Legs..." Louis said as he crossed the hall, then headed towards the living room. It was empty... Immediately, he turned towards the kitchen. "I should've probably announced myself early, but the next few days are gonna be... A lot, so I'd rather-"

Louis froze in place upon the sight. There were two men, sitting at the kitchen table, chatting. He immediately recognized one of them - an older, scarred man, already dressed in white, surgical robes despite the early hour. His green, striking eyes were welcoming to his vampiric friend. The other man, however... He was tall, slender, with a face not betraying his age. Shoulder-length hair was the color of the purest snow, and his dark, maroon eyes glanced at Louis - at first with disinterest, then, with bitterness. He slightly raised his upper lip as a sign of disdain.

"Oh... So it was you after all, sire..."

"Oh my gosh... Morcant!" Louis immediately dashed towards his long-lost fledgling and pulled him into a tight hug. Morcant flinched, barely resisting the urge to fight back. He certainly didn't like being touched, and especially by this particular man. "Oh gosh, baby, it's been so long! Look at you, look at how much you've grown! You've changed so much!"

"I know, sire. And you haven't changed at all."

That cold, sharp comment immediately made Louis pull back. He was too overbearing, wasn't he? He hid his hands behind his back and averted eye contact.

"I know, I just... I'm so happy to see you- How long has it been? Three hundred sixty... Two, no, sixty three years!" Even despite how abashed the comment made him, Louis couldn't hide his genuine excitement. It's been so long since he saw his fledgling... He was so worried that Morcant had fallen victim to vampire hunters, or even other revenants... But he was fine. More than fine, actually. He looked healthy, strong, without any signs of damage on his pristine, focused face. He did appear older in a sense - more regal, more serious. He was always serious, but even compared to the last time Louis saw him... He didn't change much. But something did change.

"You haven't told me that Louis was your sire, Morc..." Legundo admitted, still not raising from his chair and continuing to sip on his rea. 

"I shouldn't tell you about a lot of things, Francis," the vampire responded. "But since we're all already here... Fine. I was sired by Louis, over three hundred and sixty years ago." He then glanced at Louis once more. "And by your looks, I'm guessing I wasn't your last one."

"You were not, correct..." Louis admitted, before turning to Legundo and adding "Which is why I came. I needed your help with... Restocking. And since Morcant is already here, could you help us...?"

Louis' fledgling nodded.

"My carriage is waiting just outside of Oakhurst. Let's go right away, there's no time to waste."

"Coming..." Legundo finished drinking his tea, before setting the cup away. 

Morcant left the house first. Before Louis followed, the doctor grabbed him and stopped him for a minute.

"Are you alright? That was a... Cold greeting, that's for sure..."

"Yes, I'm fine! I just..." Louis sighed. "He has reasons to not want to see me. But he didn't yell at me, or straight up attack me, or anything, so... It's progress...?"

"Is this what it's like to have kids?"

"Apparently..."

Finally, the two men emerged from the house. Legundo locked the door, before following Louis to the northern gate of Oakhurst. Cold wind picked up, howling in their ears. They could already see Morcant's carriage - a simple, modest carriage made of dark wood. Two tall, dark horses were harnessed, awaiting for their owner to return. The vampire got up on the carriage and took the reins, waiting for Legs and Louis to join him. They took a seat at the back of the carriage, and soon, they headed off towards the forest.

"Where have you been all this time, Morcant? I was so worried that you didn't contact me, because something happened..." Louis leaned over the edge of the carriage, soaking the view, while keeping his fledgling in the corner of his eye. 

"I had my own things to tend to, sire. I spent my time helping vampires, and erasing the ones that were becoming a problem, until... I was delegated to check on you."

"Oh, you're also in the organization?" Only then, finally everything clicked in Louis' head. "That's awesome! You guys are doing incredible work... So far, it's been Legs helping me, but- But I'm glad you came to check up on me!"

"I did. Speaking of which..." Morcant waited for a second, before the carriage entered the thick of the woods. "You mentioned siring someone. Is this a recent development, or...?"

"Oh, you mean Owen!" Louis immediately nodded, a big smile lighting up his features. "Yes, yes, it's been... What, half a year or so? And it's been so wonderful... You guys gotta meet, now that you're in town!"

"Even I haven't had a chance yet..." Legundo pointed out with a gentle smile. "How have you two been doing?"

"Just great! Owen is the sweetest, cutest, funniest man I've ever met..." Immediately, the last of Louis' composure dissolved into a state of adoration and softness for his partner. Just thinking of him made Louis think all warm and fuzzy inside. "Those big eyes of his... And his cute little smile... I've never met anyone like him..."

"Someone's lovestruck, hm?" Legs smirked.

"Well, we... We've... We've been, uh..." Louis paused for a second. Should he...? He pulled his claws through his hair in a self-soothing gesture. "We've been... Dating for a while. For the past... Four months, or so...?"

"Oh, you have? Congrats!"

Morcant just sighed. So he was right, his sire has not changed at all in the past three hundred sixty three years. He was still the same - overbearing, emotional, touchy. Caring about his own comfort, and nothing else. Back when he was a human, Morcant didn't mind it... But once he got to meet some proper vampires, he found out just how strange Louis was. None of the hundreds of vampires he met were like him... Even if he wanted to reconnect in the future, his skin crawled at the thought of seeing him again. But it had to happen eventually... Was he sent here explicitly to meet his sire again?

"I really... Really hope that this one will stay with me," Louis added a bit more quietly. "I've been doing my best, getting him everything he needs..."

"He was sick before, wasn't he?" Legundo asked. "He never came into my office... At least since I arrived at Oakhurst, that is..."

"He was, and... He's not very partial to doctors," Louis admitted. "Since none could help him..."

"If you wouldn't mind... And if he wouldn't, of course..." The doctor spoke calmly, slowly, as if he wasn't unsure of his words himself. "I would like to examine the effects of leprosy on his body. It could greatly aid in finding a cure to this illness... But if he's too uncomfortable to do that, I understand."

"I'll talk to him," Louis immediately answered. "Owen is... A good man. Just... Really hurt. He's finally experiencing kindness and care... I don't want him to hurt ever again."

"You can't possibly protect him forever..." Morcant pointed out. "Especially if he decides to leave one day. Have you considered that, sire?"

"Of course I have! I just... He doesn't have a reason to leave, right...?"

Louis slumped deeper into the carriage, pushing his back against the wooden side. His stomach was growling, after he skipped breakfast and dinner last evening. Sleeping alongside Owen was rejuvenating, but his nap wasn't quite free of nightmares of his own sire just yet. And now, he was sitting in a cold carriage that bounced on the uneven road, with cold wind scratching his skin. Once they were done, he would take a nice, long nap... Unless Owen needed his attention. That took priority over everything, of course.

"Louis? Are you alright?" Legundo asked once again. "Do you need...?"

The doctor pulled up the sleeve of his coat. Right on his wrist, there was a small bite mark that had almost faded at this point. Louis' eyes nervously darted towards Morcant, and then he shook his head. No, not now. Not here. Not when he was around.

By the time the sun was quite high on the sky, the three of them arrived at their destination. A small farm, at the outskirts of the thick forest surrounding Oakhurst. There was a large pasture surrounding the place, full of roaming cows. Louis barely held back a hungry hiss at the sight. Maybe he could take one for himself, and no one would notice...?

"Wait for me here, I'll be right back." Morcant commanded, before getting off the carriage and approaching the farmhouse.

"What happened between you two...?" Legundo asked. "Morc was a bit more... Welcoming, before you came."

"I..." Louis sighed. "I made a mistake, when turning him. Turns out it... Wasn't what he wanted." Louis whispered, his eyes darting away from Legundo. "I only did it to help him, but... Apparently, some people would rather die, than accept this gift..."

The doctor stayed silent. He could definitely say something about that, but refrained. After all, Louis did offer him the gift once upon a time... But he refused. Out of everyone in the world, he deserved it the least. But Louis had no problem with his refusal... Then what transpired all these years ago, that Morcant abandoned his sire so quickly? Especially since now, he seemed quite comfortable with his vampirism... Or maybe he just hid his discomfort really well.

"We can go," Morcant said, upon exiting the farmhouse. "I've signed the slip already. You also got approved for extra rations for your fledgling."

"Oh, wonderful!" Louis raised from the carriage, but his head immediately began spinning. Legundo got to him before the vampire fell down, but he refused help. "Sorry, I just... It's all good."

"Are you sure, Louis?"

"I am. Let's... Let's go."

It wasn't the first time Louis arrived at this unassuming farm. He was aware that there were tens of similar farms all over the country, that served as rationing centers for vampires. It was easier to help them feed that way, then risk the vampires seeking sustenance alone and risking harms to humans or themselves. The tree men were let inside and handed the tools they needed to extract enough blood and meat for both Louis and Owen.

After approaching the first cow, instead of making an incision to take its blood and pour it into bottles, Louis sunk his teeth straight into the animal's nape. A low growl gurgled in his throat. The slightly bitter taste filled his mouth. But it wasn't enough to satisfy him... He was drained, both physically and mentally. Once the cow dropped dead, Louis dug straight into his meat, struggling to quell his hunger. He knew he should stop, he should get a hold of himself and calm down... But with all the exhaustion and mental turmoil, his instincts resurfaced. And before he could recollect himself, he needed to truly sustain himself.

"Louis?"

The vampire let out a startled hiss. The second he noticed it was Legundo, he covered his mouth and stood up from the ground.

"Sorry, I just..." He muttered. "I'm so hungry..."

"Are you sure you don't need any from me? You said once that it's a lot more sustaining than just animal blood..."

Louis nervously looked around. Even if Legundo was willing to help him, Morcant wouldn't like it... None of the vampires from the organization would. Feeding on humans was considered taboo among them. It was this primal need, always present in the back of their heads and never going silent. But they never truly voiced it. It was the burden of their gift that they had to carry alone until the end of times.

"I... I shouldn't- Just don't tell Morcant, okay?"

Legundo didn't even have the time to prepare his wrist, when Louis grabbed his hand and sunk his teeth deep into his skin. He slurped greedily, animalistic growls escaping him every now and then. He knew he had to stop, he couldn't take too much from him... But he needed it. Even if that meant undoing decades of progress.

"Sire!"

The vampire immediately turned around, his bright red eyes narrowing. Morcant was standing right behind him, his hand resting on a stake previously hidden under his coat. His fangs opened in a warning gesture. Louis immediately retreated, his own fangs hiding.

"Wait, no no no, hold on," his voice broke "You don't understand, I needed-"

"You broke the rules, sire," Morcant said coldly, raising the stake. "How can we know we can trust you, if you feed on humans like a thoughtless animal?"

"I'm not! I mean- I did, but- I had to! And Legs was fine with that!"

"Morcant, let it go," the doctor stepped up, shielding Louis with his body. "You can make an exception."

"If we make an exception for him, we'd have to make exceptions for others," Morcant growled. "And where do we draw the line, Francis?"

"Do no harm, Morcant," the doctor responded starkly. Deep down, he knew just how dangerous his position in this moment was. He was literally standing between two vampires that could attack each other at any second... But he didn't care. His goal in life was to help as many people as he could. And if that meant dying to atone for his sins, then so be it. "If you really want so badly to punish someone, punish me. I proposed it, I let Louis drink from me."

Only then, Morcant hid his stake with surprising compliance. His face betrayed that he wasn't happy about this decision.

"You really haven't changed..." The vampire grumbled, before returning to his work.

---

It was late in the afternoon, when the three men finished their work. Dozens upon dozens of bottles of blood were packed into tight, wooden crates, and placed on the back of Morcant's carriage. Several crates were also filled with meat - some raw, some dried, to prevent spoilage. As soon as Louis' fledgling was done with their documentation, he returned to his vehicle and turned around, to head straight back to Oakhurst.

"Morcant?" Louis suddenly asked. Since their little argument, he was even more abashed, more unsure whether he still wanted to talk to his estranged fledgling. And yet... His curiosity got the better of him.

"Yes, sire?" The vampire's voice was still cold and sharp as a silver blade. He sounded like he didn't really want to talk to Louis... Well, too bad.

"Could I visit you one day? Maybe with Owen...?"

The fledgling paused. Did he want that...? The idea of reconnecting with his sire still made him feel uneasy. He was not a bad man, but he certainly wasn't easy to deal with, either. Maybe with time, they would be able to work out their differences. And time was the one thing the vampires had in abundance. 

"I live in Blackwyn," Morcant eventually replied. "It's north-west from the capital. But I have to travel a lot... Well, not so much lately. I have someone to return to now."

"You have your own fledgling?" Louis asked with a curious tone.

"Not... Not exactly. He's... Not a vampire. But he's... Almost like a fledgling, yes. The son of my friends, who died a while ago."

"Wish you had brought him with yourself, I'd love to meet him..." Louis couldn't hold back a smile. The idea of his fledgling siring someone, or even just caring for someone as his own offspring... It made him feel even more like a proud parent. 

"Maybe one day, sire. Maybe one day."

The elder vampire turned back, to look at Legundo. The doctor was sitting at the edge of the carriage, watching at the forest they passed through. His stare was calm, but focused. He always looked like that when he was deep in thought... And that happened quite often. Louis knew that there was heavy baggage on his shoulders, always looming in the back of his head. He saw some of it - his blood not only carried nutrients and liveforce, but also memories. Even after knowing the doctor for years, he hasn't made out all of it just yet. But he also didn't feel it'd be appropriate to ask. He trusted Legundo, he saw him as a good, reliable man. Even if he had many, many skeletons in his closet... He wasn't the only one. Louis would be a hypocrite to judge him on that.

By the time the sun was setting, the carriage stopped right under the doorstep of Louis' house. Immediately, Morcant and Louis jumped down and began lifting the heavy wooden crates.

"Stay here, Francis," Morcant commanded. "We wouldn't want you to accidentally injure your back."

"Excuse me?" The doctor couldn't hold back a chuckle. "I'm not that old yet!"

"Then at least keep watch on the carriage, please?" Louis asked. "So that no one gets any weird ideas..."

Legundo sighed, but ultimately agreed. Louis pushed the door open, then invited his fledgling inside with the movement of his head.

---

Something was happening in the house.

The fledgling grumbled sleepily, tossing and turning in his cosy blanket and not ready to get up just yet. He could tell he very much overslept - but at the same time, getting up felt like an impossible task. It was just too warm, cosy, and nice... If he only could, he'd spend the rest of his life here, not caring about anything else in the world. What was the difference? He was complacent and safe. So what if he was a bit lazy, or getting a bit heavier? This is exactly what he needed his whole life. If only Louis was right beside him...

But then, Owen heard Louis' voice. It came from the living room. He perked up his pointy ear, listening in on the conversation.

"I can assure you, Morcant, he's safe to help. He's a good man, very good... And if you ever change your mind about letting me join the organization, I'm sure he'd join with me."

"I can't trust your word completely, sire. We both know you rarely take off your rose-tinted glasses."

Owen immediately tensed. Who was that? He didn't recognize that voice, it was... Cold, a little deeper than Louis'. And the conversation itself... Were they talking about him? Slowly, Owen crawled out of his bed, then approached the door and peeked through the crack.

There was someone in their house, besides Louis. A stranger, roughly Louis' side, maybe a little bit taller. Cloaked in black, making his white hair pop out even more. Owen couldn't see his eyes, but he could bet they were a piercing red. An involuntary hiss slipped his lips at the sight.

And it just happened that the stranger heard it.

"Is that your fledgling, sire?"

Owen immediately moved back, away from the sire. Wait, hold on- sire? Was that Louis' fledgling...?

"Yes, it's him! Owen, dearest, come here, I want you to meet someone!"

"A minute!" The lumberjack called back.

Quickly, Owen pulled on a shirt and fresh pants. The image of the stranger could not escape his mind. He had never seen someone who looked so... Vampiric. Maybe besides Scott, but... In a way, he felt as if he was to imagine a vampire without ever meeting one, the face of this guy would pop into his head. The long, straight, white hair, the pristine, ageless skin, the slender, proud posture... That actually made Owen pause for a second. So many things that he wasn't, that this guy was... Was he doing something wrong, then...?

Finally, Owen emerged from the room. He approached the stranger, barely holding his claws from twitching. From up close, he seemed even taller - at least half a foot taller than Owen. The lumberjack tried keeping eye contact, but the sheer aura that surrounded the vampire made him feel all queasy inside.

"Morcant, this is Owen! Owen, meet Morcant Thornvale, one of my fledglings."

"It's nice to finally meet a blood-brother..." Morcant extended his hand. Pristine, pale, soft, with slim, strong fingers. And very cold. In contrast to Owen's - scarred, damaged, calloused even after months of slacking, and surprisingly warm for a vampire. The older vampire's hand twitched when Owen finally touched him.

"Nice to meet you too," he whispered. "Louis never mentioned you..."

"I expected that," Morcant turned back to Louis. Once he was sure Owen didn't see his hand, he wiped it against his shirt. His eyes met Louis' again. He was unimpressed, to say the least. He knew that his sire had strange standards, but this...? "Louis did certainly mention you, that's for sure..."

"I expected that." Owen snapped back with a cheeky grin. He probably should be nicer to someone he was related to in a way, and yet... Something about this guy felt wrong. He needed to be wary, that's for sure.

"Well, anyway... I should be going already," Morcant commented, before hiding his hands in his pockets. "These should be enough for a few months... Once you run out, we'll send someone."

"Could you come...?"

"We'll see, sire. We'll see."

The vampire approached the door. He shot one last glance in Owen's direction. He didn't even look like a vampire... Small, scruffy, lacking a proper vampire's edge in more ways than one. Were his other blood-siblings like that? Morcant just shook his head, before stepping outside.

Louis followed him.

"Can I ask something, sire?" the fledgling asked while they were heading downstairs.

"Yes?"

"Why... Why him?"

Louis squinted.

"Pardon?"

"I mean... I know your standards are... Specific, but... You call that a vampire?" Morcant's voice betrayed any emotions for the first time since they met. It was... Vile. Acidic. "He looks more like a homeless kid... And I can tell why you ran out of blood quickly, with how he-"

Suddenly, Louis' claws dug into Morcant's shoulder. A loud, angry hiss slipped the mayor's lips.

"Don't... Don't you dare talk about him like that," he growled. "Don't you dare insult him. I made you, Morcant. But don't think I can't also un-make you. Is that clear?"

Louis couldn't see the tiniest of smiles that appeared on Morcant's face. That's better... Finally, his sire sounded like a real vampire. He was no longer such a wet rag... He hasn't gone completely soft after the centuries. It actually made him glad.

"Understood... And one more thing."

"Yes?"

"His hair."

"What about..."

Louis froze in place. Right... It was white. Still. To get it to turn back to their natural color, he'd have to keep Owen from consuming any blood for a long time... Which, obviously, he didn't want to do. But since Morcant already noticed... He had to come up with a convincing lie.

And luckily, he just got the perfect idea.

"After he turned, he was... Still a bit sick. Legundo let him drink a bit of his blood, to strengthen him..."

Morcant squinted.

"Didn't he say he hasn't met this guy yet?"

"He was- He was very sick," Louis kept his voice sharp, to hopefully hide any doubts he had about his lie. "It's hard to say you met someone, when they're barely conscious... But Legs did help save his life."

"Fine," Morcant finally relented. He could tell not everything Louis said was the truth... But if that meant he wouldn't have to deal with his sire for much longer, then so be it. "Good luck with this one, then."

Soon, the vampire got back on his carriage. Louis waved him and Legundo goodbye, before heading back inside. Right away, he saw Owen sitting on the sofa, with an uncertain expression. He was pulling his fingers all over the surface of his stomach, then put them in his long, curly hair.

"Missed me, dearest?" Louis smiled and slumped on the sofa next to him.

"A lot..." Owen agreed, immediately leaning into his embrace. His tone was somber, quiet. "That guy was... I don't know. I feel like he didn't like me."

"He's a friend, Owen. If something ever happens to me, you can trust him."

"Another reason for why we can't let anything happen to you," Owen giggled, before kissing his partner on the cheek.

But the strange meeting still hasn't left his head. The way his blood-brother carried himself, with so much regality... It almost made Owen feel like a dirty, scruffy rat in comparison. And the more he put together the images of Louis, Morcant and Scott in his head, he was coming to a conclusion he was dreading... 

He looked nothing like them. 

He was nothing like them.

Was he truly a vampire, then? Or was he truly doing something wrong...?

Notes:

IT'S MY FIC, MY RULES AND MY CONTINUITY THAT MAKES NO SENSE BECAUSE LEGS SHOULDN'T BE BORN FOR THE NEXT 150 YEARS :3 /silly
But hey, that means there's Bloodletting/Bloodserum territory to explore now! Who's excited?

I literally squealed when it was revealed that the shadow organization most likely helped or at least knew of Louis! I already wanted to include them, so I decided to get a little silly with it....... Also, if you don't know what that's referring to, that means you most likely haven't watched Abolish's POV; please do, his POV is really great!

Chapter 22: All that makes you you

Summary:

Meeting other vampires starts making Owen insecure about the way he turned out.

Notes:

I forgot to mention last time but this thing is at over 8k hits now! Waow! Thanks so much!
I hope you enjoy this one, I'm starting to put in a little bit more worldbuilding...... Which is ironic, considering this thing was supposed to be just a collection of one shots without any overarching narrative. Well, I hope you like it nonetheless ^^

One of Louis' favorite pastimes was watching his partner and picking up on all of his little quirks. All the little things that made him so much more endearing, so much more real; more human, paradoxically. He loved hoarding all the blankets and taking up as much space on their bed - but curled up and hid every time morning sun itched his skin. How sometimes while doing his things, he froze in place, his stare glued to some place far away - only to return after a few seconds and resume his work. How he always sniffed his food before he ate it, as if to check if it's good... And tens of other things that Louis noticed throughout their months of living together.

But there were also things that he noticed in the recent days, that were more... Concerning.

Owen would spend hours picking on his scars, until he reached deep into his own flesh. He started while Louis was away, and once he returned home, he had to stop him from further damaging his already wounded skin. After his partner wrapped the open wounds in bandages, he would undo them and tighten them a lot more than it was comfortable - and refuse to take them off. After a few days, Louis also picked up on the fact that he stopped drinking blood unless the mayor was home - the bottles were not vanishing as quickly as they used to. He was still affectionate and loving, but his big, brown eyes seemed darker and more clouded than usually. His partner could tell that something was bothering him... But getting through to him would definitely prove quite a challenge.

That afternoon, Louis returned to Owen sitting on the sofa and picking on a particularly nasty scar on his wrist. Angry, frustrated whimpers escaped him, his fingers shaking from the pain he inflicted upon himself. Immediately, Louis knelt in front of him and grabbed his hands gently, but firmly.

"Owen... What are you doing?" He asked sternly, squeezing his fingers gently. "What's wrong, dearest?"

"I... I just... It's itchy..."

"It's itchy, because you keep scratching and reopening them..." Louis sighed, before placing a gentle kiss on Owen's wrist. "They will never fully heal if you keep picking on them, honey... You have to find something else to do with your hands."

"I'm sorry..." Owen whispered.

"Have you eaten anything since I left?"

"No..." The vampire averted eye contact. "I wanted to... Wait for you."

"Come on, let's go to the bathroom... I'll take care of it."

Louis took off his coat and shoes, then led Owen to the bathroom. He helped him sit down in the empty bathtub, before looking for fresh bandages. He really hoped they wouldn't need them after his beloved was healed... But if they were needed to help him again, then so be it.

"My poor, poor baby..." Louis began cleaning the wound with a damp cloth. Of course, since they were both technically dead, Owen couldn't get sick with tetanus or something akin - but that didn't mean he was completely safe. He was still at risk of getting his skin infected and rotting. And that was the last thing he wanted Owen to experience... "Why do you keep doing this? Are you bored at home?"

"Maybe... A little bit...?" Owen nodded. Yes, that was a good explanation... And a safer one than admitting the full truth.

"Oh, sweetie..." Louis sighed, placing another soft kiss on his partner's knuckles. "I'll find you something to occupy your time, I promise..."

"You don't have to, Lou, I'm a grown ass man..." The fledgling chuckled quietly.

"Are you sure? I haven't seen a grown-ass man with such huge, sad eyes before..." Louis smirked and gave him a little peck on the cheek. "And with such a cute smile..."

"I'm still a grown man, though!" Owen smiled. The way Louis gently rubbed his wrist, massaging his sore skin, finally put him at a bit of an ease. He wasn't feeling quite good yet. He was painfully hungry, after waiting for his partner for hours to return. Of course, he could go to the pantry and get some blood himself - but in the past few days, he developed a need for Louis to keep him in check.

In just a few weeks, he went from only knowing one vampire (besides himself), to meeting two new. Both were connected to his sire, both were similar to him... And nothing like Owen. Scott, Louis and Morcant carried themselves with this aura of pristine regality and control. Owen still couldn't shake off his first meeting with Louis - truth be told, he was a bit scared of how serious and proper the mayor seemed... The lumberjack expected him to be unapproachable, and that he would be grossed out by his condition. But he wasn't... But even now, whenever needed, he could still put on this sharp, cold mask that Owen honestly found quite hot. But Scott and Morcant... They commanded the room, they dictated the terms. Compared to them, Owen felt small and dirty. And maybe he was... The way Morcant wiped his hand after shaking Owen's, it made him feel grossed out by himself. Even after healing from his illness and finding a place to call home... He was still different. There was still something wrong with him.

"Owen?" Louis suddenly asked, pulling Owen from his thoughts once more. "Do you scratch them because they're itchy, or are they itchy because you scratch them?"

"Yes...?" The fledgling put on a silly smile. He reached out his other hand, intertwining his fingers with Louis'. "Your hands are so nice... So smooth and pretty... With no scars..."

"I'm glad you like them..." Louis smirked, and then added "But your hands are very pretty as well..."

"They are not..." Owen murmured. "You see all these scars...? This... Gross, marbled nature... Not to mention, you and every other vampire are so pale, while I'm... Not," he replied. His skin seemed even darker then compared to Louis' bright, pale skin. All these long days working in intense sunlight left a mark on him... That apparently didn't fade with his gift of vampirism. For a time, his skin seemed to take a more ashy, grey tint - but once he got healthier and more nourished, it went back to something similar to how it used to be.

"There's nothing wrong with- Owen...?" Only then, the realization finally hit Owen. His insecurity didn't come just from within... He compared himself to Louis. And to Scott and Morcant too, probably. He hasn't met that many vampires yet... But the ones he did meet happened to have a certain set of traits that made them similar. And now, he was comparing himself to them. "Do you... Do you mind how you look, because you don't look like me, or Morcant, or my sire...?"

"I..." Owen paused. He slumped against the side of the bathtub. "I mean... I don't really look like a real vampire, right? I look like a monster, but... When you ask most people to picture a vampire, they picture someone like you, or them..."

"Oh, sweetheart..." Louis sighed. He began gently wrapping Owen's wrist in fresh bandages. "Listen to me, okay? There is no one way to be a vampire, just like there's no one way to be a human. All vampires are a bit different from each other, with their personality, and story, and looks..." He put soft kisses on the freshly wrapped wound, before continuing to cover it up. "You're very, very special... I've never seen a vampire quite like you. And that's a quality, not a problem..."

"You don't mind that I'm not... Clean and proper like you...?"

"With how often you make me bathe you, I think you're pretty clean..." Louis asked, before his smile faded again. "But no, I don't... You had a difficult upbringing. And that manifests in your vampirism."

"It does...?" Owen scrunched his nose.

"It does... You may not see it, because you have less experience, but... Here, let me show you."

Louis put their hands together. Owen's hands were a bit smaller, more square, with shorter fingers, compared to the pristine palm of his partner. Only then, when his attention was brought to that, he noticed differences between their claws. Louis' claws were quite short, light, with straight, sharp edges. Owen's, on the other hand, were darker, and slightly hooked at the tips, making it easy for them to get stuck on things. His eyes widened a little. 

"Our claws..."

"See?" Louis smiled. "They're different, right? Since you always had to fend for yourself... Your form adapted to that. That means once you develop fully, you might be quite different from me, or Morcant, or any of my fledglings!"

Owen chuckled nervously. So all the damage that he received during his mortal life would follow him into eternity...? Was there something he could've done to prevent this? Or something he could do now, to correct the way he was developing? His fingers tightened, before he pulled his hand back.

"What else is different...?" He asked quietly.

"Well, when I look at your teeth..." Louis gently pulled his upper lip up, to glance at Owen's fangs. "I swear, your incisors were not that sharp when you were a human... I bet it would make it so much easier for you to hunt..." For a second, Louis' mind flashed back to the one time Owen bit him in the arm. No wonder it hurt so much... And some time had already passed since then, his fangs had more time to develop some more... He shook off the thought, before adding "And there could be even more things that could pop up one day! Who knows, maybe you will develop different abilities to what I did?"

"That would be... Well..." Owen paused. All this time, he thought that getting turned by Louis would mean he would be just like him - if not mentally, then at least physically... That he'd fit in, even if with only one person. But he was going to develop differently even from him, wasn't he...? He would never truly fit in. He was too damaged for that. And that left a bitter taste in his mouth... He needed to fight it off. Quickly, before it poisoned his mind and left him feeling alone and isolated once more. "I don't think I'd do well as a hunter right now, I... I think you spoiled me a bit too much for that," he added with a dumb smile.

"Mmmm, that I did..." Louis smirked, before reaching his hand and gently stroking his partner's side. He adored how nicely his body recovered from years of malnourishment... Not to mention, cuddling with his warm, chubby boyfriend felt incredible. "But it's about time I take you out for a hunt one day?"

"I thought we don't have to hunt, since Morcant helped you get food?" Owen snickered.

"Well, technically, we don't... But it's great for letting off steam," Louis chuckled, before adding "And I need to take you outside every now and then, so that you don't end up glued to the sofa..."

"I'd love to go out with you one day... Even if it means running around forests eating wild animals," Owen smirked. He knew he needed an excuse to go out really soon, as soon as Louis would finally permit him... To fight off this feeling of comfortable sluggishness. He couldn't let himself lose all of his edge. No matter how inviting that idea sounded.

"One day, honey... I promise."

Once Louis finished tending to his wounds, he scooped up his partner and began carrying him outside the bathroom. Owen let out a startled hiss and he grabbed his partner tightly. He didn't believe that Louis would drop him by accident, but still...

"Am I not too heavy?" He asked, his tone a bit abashed.

"What? No, of course you aren't!" The mayor smirked and placed a loving hiss on the tip of his nose. "You're perfect... Perfectly sized to scoop up and carry around, you know?"

"You're the worst..." Owen snickered and hugged him tightly, watching out for his claws so that they wouldn't leave holes in Louis' shirt. Now that he was made aware of just how unique their shape is, he suddenly became even more self conscious about them. "First you don't even let me walk around, you spoil me, then you complain-"

"Excuse me? I'm not complaining! I love spoiling my favorite fledgling..." Louis giggled, before suddenly pausing. The way Owen's eyes lit up at that sentence... What he just heard apparently meant a lot to him.

"Am I really your favorite...?"

Previously, the term 'favorite fledgling' did not mean all that much to Owen. Sure, he knew that the mayor loved him... But it began meaning so much more, once he realized that he wasn't his favorite just because he was the default option. Louis had six other fledglings, out of whom Owen met one... Who was so much better put together and regal than he could ever hope to be. Was he truly...?

"Of course, dearest... You're my favorite. Just don't tell Morcant, or the others, if you ever meet them." The elder vampire added with a playful smile, before kissing Owen on the cheek.

Soon, the two of them fell into their bed, immediately getting tangled in all of the blankets and quilt in their little nest. Louis began gently stroking the inside of Owen's hand, examining his fingers and claws. It's true, his partner was unlike any vampire he had ever seen... But that didn't mean there was something wrong with him. He was just unique... But he was still a full-fledged vampire. Just a young, inexperienced one, who still hasn't shed its puppy fur. But they had time... Louis could still figure out how to accommodate him. And maybe then, Owen would finally feel like he has a place where he truly belongs.

Chapter 23: The weight of insecurity

Summary:

Louis comforts Owen through another mental slump.

It wasn't often that Owen didn't greet Louis after he returned home from work. Usually, when that did happen, it was because he was in a deep slumber, unable to hear his partner coming in. That time, the mayor expected that to be the case - but to his surprise, even when he opened the door to the bedroom, his lover did not raise to welcome him. And he wasn't asleep - his eyes were open. And at the same time, they were... Sad, and tired.

"Good evening, sweetie..." Louis approached his lover and crouched next to the bed. "Did something happen...? You look so pale..."

"I... I think I ate something bad..." He mumbled, curling up on the bed even tighter than he already did. For a second, he averted eye contact, to hide that what he said wasn't exactly the truth.

"Oh, sweetheart... You have a stomachache?" The mayor sat down next to the bed, his gentle, cold hand stroking Owen's cheek. Once he nodded in response, Louis added "My poor baby... Can I see...?"

Reluctantly, Owen turned on his back, despite the protests of his sore spine. The mayor sat next to him, pulling his hand over the side of his lover's tummy. Since they started living together, the fledgling definitely put on quite a bit of weight, giving him a heavier, but also a cosier look. But now, it did feel uncomfortably bloated... As a vampire, Owen couldn't get straight up sick. But there were still things that could mess with him pretty badly - and that was one of them.

"My poor little thing..." Louis leaned forward and left a little kiss on Owen's forehead. "I'll make you some tea, how about that?"

"Is that gonna help?" Owen chuckled weakly.

"Well, it does help me when I feel bad... And it won't hurt, I promise." Louis rose from the bed. "And then, we can cuddle a little, and get everything sorted out..."

"You promise?"

"I promise."

Owen's eyes followed Louis to the door, and he sighed once his lover was away from earshot. Revealing the full truth felt a little bit embarassing... Well, maybe he did eat something bad. But the truth of the matter was, all his attempts at trying to limit how much he ate finally backfired. After waking up, he was ravaged by such hunger, he went straight to their pantry and gorged himself on as much blood as his little body was able to take. He nearly passed out by the end, but he just managed to drag himself back to bed and nap for a little while - before the stomachache finally hit him like a horse carriage. He just really hoped Louis wouldn't notice anything out of the ordinary... 

Finally, the major returned to the bedroom, holding a cup of warm, steaming tea. He set it on the nightstand before joining Owen in bed. Louis' arms carefully wrapped around his partner's chest. He loved how warm his body felt... Usually, all vampires were incredibly cold. Not that it could hurt them in any way, and yet... Louis really liked the warmth. Another different, strange, but lovely thing that set Owen apart from all the other vampires he had ever met... What else was there to discover about him...?

"Did you get any sleep today?" He asked quietly, drawing little circles on Owen's chest with his finger.

"A little..." Owen admitted. For a second, his body tensed, before it relaxed again.

"Did you throw up, or something like that?"

"No..." The fledgling sighed. He began picking on his claws, just to occupy his hands - but that was met by Louis taking his palm and kissing it gently. "Sorry, I just... Since you made me notice just how weird they are, I've just been... You know..."

"Oh, honey, dearest, I don't- I didn't mean to make you insecure..."

"Too late," Owen chuckled bitterly. He then added "I- I mean... You didn't make me insecure. You just made me... Aware."

Louis sighed and pulled him a bit closer. He had known Owen for long enough to know where this was going. He was never good with his feelings, and his mood was like a pendulum, constantly going up and down. Looks like they had another period of his low mood coming... But no matter what happens, he needed to stay close to Owen. To reassure him of his love, and that he would never leave him behind, no matter what.

"I am different, Louis," the fledgling continued after a moment. "You can't fight that, it's just a fact. I just..." He paused again, before adding "Maybe there was something I could've done, to be more like you...?"

"You don't have to be like me, sweetheart... You're perfect just the way you are."

"Then why do I look so... Monstrous, compared to you? And Morcant, and Scott... Is it just because I was sick?" He let out a soft whimper once a wave of pain and nausea hit him. "Is this illness gonna follow me into eternity now...?"

"I... I don't know, honey, I... I don't know why you turned out like that..." Louis muttered. He wished his own knowledge about vampirism was better than that... But most of it came from his sire, who always was careful about what he taught his least favorite fledgling. Maybe there was a logical explanation as to why Owen turned out this way... But Louis didn't really have a way to learn more about that. Unless... Maybe if he contacted Morcant, he could ask around the organization as to what was wrong- Different about Owen...? "But I promise, you're wonderful just the way you are. Even if your claws or fangs are a little different... You're still a sweet little pup, who deserves the world..."

"I don't deserve the world... But if I deserve any of your love, that's all that I need..." Owen's head landed on Louis' chest with a soft sigh. "Crap..."

"It still hurts?"

"Yeah…?"

"Here, drink some of this..."

The mayor carefully sat up and helped his partner lean against the wall. He handed him the warm tea, of which he drank a couple of sips. It certainly warmed him from inside, but it was hard to say that it actually did help. Maybe it just needed some time... 

"I can't believe there was something wrong with this meat," Louis sighed. "The organization always makes sure that their cattle aren't sick with something... We might have to throw out the rest, in case it's contaminated too..."

"We do...?" Cold sweat dripped down Owen's back. He did not intend for his little lie to come to this, to waste so much food... But would Louis be upset about him lying to him again? 

"Probably... Don't worry, I'll just buy you some food on the market, I won't let you go hungry..."

Owen flinched at how Louis said 'you', excluding himself. He cared about Owen so much... Only for him to lie to him, and make him go hungry just because of that. He had to stop, immediately.

"I... I'm sorry, Louis. I lied."

"Pardon?" The mayor tilted his head.

"I... I didn't eat anything bad." Owen finally admitted, wrapping his arms around his sore stomach. "I mean, I'm pretty sure I didn't. I just... I was really, really hungry, and... I went a little overboard."

Louis' smile dropped. He did not seem upset... Disappointed, at worst. But above all, he seemed concerned.

"Were you really this hungry? Why...?"

"I..." Owen took a deep breath. "For the past few weeks, I was trying to... Not eat, while you weren't around. But, I couldn't take it today..." He chuckled bitterly. "I'm sorry, I'm so gross..."

"Honey!" Louis immediately pulled Owen into his arms and left a big kiss on his cheek. "Sweetie, dearest, baby, I... You don't have to limit yourself, you know? If you need to eat a little more to feel healthy and comfortable, I don't mind that!"

"But I do..." The lumberjack spoke with visible strain. Not just due to the pain - opening up to Louis like this still felt scary. What if he said something wrong, or stupid, and made him seem like a worse person...? "I've been feeling... Like I'm doing something wrong... Sitting at home all day, not doing anything useful, and just... Getting lazy and spoiled..." He glanced down at his body. Sure, he was looking healthier now... But something in his pain still tried to convince him that this wasn't what he deserved. His whole life, he went hungry, either too poor to afford food, or denied anything due to his condition. That didn't mean he could just bounce back and overindulge for a change, right? "Come on, don't tell me you don't see it, how I've gotten... Fat, and spoiled, and all that, right?"

"Oh, sweetie..." Louis sat cross-legged in front of his lover. "Are you feeling insecure, because you got a little chubbier...?" Once his fledgling confirmed with a nod, he added "Oh, baby... I assure you, there's nothing wrong with that... Especially given all that you've been through, you deserve to get healthy and feel good..." He placed his hands on Owen's sides, mindful of the pain he could cause him if he wasn't careful enough. "I think you're gorgeous like that... It really suits you, you know...?"

"It does...?" The fledgling snickered quietly.

"Yeah! Look at you... You look so cosy... And you're so, so warm..." Louis leaned over Owen, placing a soft kiss on his lips. "It's rare for vampires to be warm, you know?"

"Another thing that's wrong with me, huh...?" Owen snickered.

"I wouldn't say it's wrong... It's unexpected. But I love it..." Louis cuddled up to his partner, resting his head on Owen's chest. "Makes you perfect for cuddling... You know?"

"Now I do..." Owen muttered. His stomachache still had him a bit queasy, but being so close to Louis definitely helped. "So... You don't mind that I let myself go so much...?"

"Let yourself go? Oh, sweetie..." Louis snickered. "If by that, you mean that you became the most beautiful man I've ever met, then... No, I don't mind." He whispered, wrapping his arms tightly around Owen. "Besides, just so you know... If you were trying to stop eating to lose some weight... I don't think it just works like that."

"It doesn't...?" Owen sighed. "So I'm stuck like this...?"

"I guess so... But I love it! And I'll make you love it too," Louis promised with a devilish smile. Barely moments later, he was already unbuttoning the top of Owen's shirt, and then began placing little pecks all over his chest.

"What are you- Hey! Louis! It tickles!" The lumberjack began giggling. Even months into living together, any sort of physical intimacy still got him all ticklish and giddy... Not that he minded, of course. He loved it when his partner showered him with affection. He just expected that after so long, he would stop feeling so silly and immature about it... He probably still had a way to go before that happens, though. "Lou! Stop it!"

"Only when you start loving yourself... And seeing yourself as the most handsome, hottest little guy in the world... How about that?"

Quickly, Owen quit protesting. Not just because he did enjoy Louis smothering him with attention and love... But also because he knew this wouldn't happen anytime soon. In his head, he was still a disgusting monster - the people of Oakhurst made that clear, and his one encounter with Morcant reinforced that. Louis seemed like the only person who actually saw Owen as sweet and handsome... So he couldn't be completely sure that Louis wasn't just biased.

"If you really want to get rid of this..." Louis said, tapping his fingers around his partner's stomach "Which I hope you don't... I can ask my friend if he knows how to do it safely. He's a doctor, he know stuff about-"

Immediately, an angry hiss slipped Owen's lips at the sound of his most hated word. Louis had a friend, who was a doctor... Immediately, the fledgling tensed and hid his scarred hands behind his back.

"Huh...? Oh, Owen, don't worry... He's a good doctor. He wouldn't hurt you..."

"I hate doctors," he muttered, "fuck them all. All they do is take money and not actually help anyone... You know how many I've met? How many claimed that they could help me? And all they did was the same few tricks. Herbs, leeches, bloodletting... Nothing helped. Nothing before... Before you."

Louis sighed. He gently grabbed Owen's hand, stroking it reassuringly.

"I know you are... Wary of them, Owen, but... I promise, he will not do anything to hurt you. If you prefer, he won't even look at you as a doctor... Just as a friend. Someone who you can trust. Can you give him a chance...? I promise, you two will get along..."

Owen grumbled something angrily. He was still in a bad mood, his stomachache definitely didn't help... But if Louis trusted that guy, maybe he should as well...?

"...we'll see. Maybe I'll try."

"Thank you, dearest."

Owen slumped into Louis' arms, getting back into this comfort, sleepy atmosphere of their bedroom. His head was still heavy and sluggish, too stuffed with insecurities to think straight. Nothing seemed quite real, and yet... There was one thing he was sure about being real. How much he loved, and trusted Louis. And since he said that he loved him the way he was, and always had his best interest in mind... Maybe he should think that as well...?

Chapter 24: Furred kin

Summary:

Owen adopts a little creature that is very much like him.

Notes:

What I may say here might be stupid but hey, it's my fic, my rules.

At first I planned a different next chapter (and actually planned there would be no update today at all).
But today, I learned that last Monday, my beloved cat had to be put down due to an illness she wasn't going to recover from anymore. I'm upset that I didn't get to say goodbye, but she probably wouldn't make it to when I would return home next week. So, this is my way of coping with a loss of a beloved pet who lived at my house rent free for the past 11 years. It got me feeling a little better, but it will probably take a while before I'm over what happened (if I'm ever over that). So if the chapters are a bit more sporadic for the forseeable future, this is why. I hope you enjoy it nonetheless ^^

Whenever Owen entered the pantry while Louis wasn't home, he was hit with a strange sense of guilt. He knew he had no reasons to feel like that, that he was welcome here, and his partner had no issues with sharing his food... And yet, the vampire couldn't exactly explain why it felt bad to actually go in there. As if he could spend his time doing something better than just stuffing his face. Sometimes he'd bring his current woodcarving piece, or his number puzzle booklet, and just sit in the room to exercise his self-control. The scent of blood wasn't particularly strong when hidden in glass bottles - but the sight did make him feel uncomfortably hungry. Still, he pushed himself to do it, if only once every few days. In his head, that meant he would either get better at controlling himself, or defeat the newfound queasiness about eating. His money was on the former, truth be told.

That afternoon, Owen was sitting with his back against the wall of the pantry, carving something out of wood. He intended it to be a little bird, but his shaky hands already caused him to cut off the bird's wings more than once. At this point, he was just mindlessly carving into the wood, as if waiting for the piece to reduce into splinters. His stomach was aching from how much he tried to ignore the hunger gnawing at his insides. He woke up after Louis had already left, so it didn't feel right to him to eat before he'd return. But it's fine, it was already pretty late, he will be back soon...

Until suddenly, Owen heard something.

A small, dark shape slid through the narrow window near the ceiling of the pantry. It then landed softly on the highest shelf, before squeezing between the blood bottles and dropping on the ground. Owen froze in place, his eyes glued to the small, fuzzy shape. It was a cat... One of the many homeless cats of Oakhurst, although he didn't recognize that one. It wasn't an adult yet, but also was far from a kitten. It looked like a white cat, that had black paint poured over its head and back. The second its shiny, golden eyes spotted Owen, the animal also stopped, a bit startled by the presence of a vampire. Did it even know that Owen was one? Or did it think he was just another human?

"Kitty..." Owen's pupils widened. Cats were one of the only beings living in Oakhurst that did not run away, once they spotted him. He was a bit wary of touching them before, unsure whether his illness would transfer to them... But now, he no longer had to worry about that. He was healed. But would the cat react differently, if it was able to sense his inhumanity...? "Hey, little one... Come here..."

Owen snapped his fingers quietly a couple of times, to grab the animal's attention. The cat let out a soft meow and walked up to him, raising its tail high and twisting its tip left and right. It took a step back when Owen tried to pet it right away, but accepted the offer to smell the vampire. Owen barely held back an excited giggle once the animal rubbed its snout against his fingers.

"Awwww... You're so sweet... I probably smell like some dead prey, huh?"

The vampire observed wide-eyed as the cat began roaming the pantry, looking for something to eat. Owen left his woodcarving on the ground, before approaching one of the big boxes, where they stored meat. He cut off a chunk of beef, then tossed it on the ground. The cat's ears perked up at the sound, then it ran up to the food and began chewing on the meat. A bit reassured by the presence of another hungry being, Owen also got a piece of meat for himself and began eating it, after sitting on the ground. The cat's eyes were so mesmerizing and intelligent... As if it knew exactly what was happening, and who Owen was. And the way it tilted his head left and right while chewing on the meat was just adorable. Once it was finished, it sat up, then began washing its paws. Happy purring erupted from the animal's chest. Quickly, Owen joined in on the sound.

"Maybe you wanna stay with us?" The vampire asked, after cutting off another piece of meat for himself. "I bet Louis would love to have a cat together... And we have plenty of meat to share..."

The cat looked at him curiously, before resuming its bath. It didn't seem exactly bothered by anything Owen was saying, as if it understood each word, but simply didn't care. And taking care of such a cute furbaby would finally give the fledgling something to do during the day, while his partner was away...

And then, he heard the distant sound of the door opening.

"Louis!" Owen immediately dashed out of the room and straight into his partner's arms. Louis chuckled once he grabbed Owen, and pulled him into a tight hug.

"Good to see you too, sweetie..." He whispered, rubbing faint traces of blood from Owen's lips. "Missed me?"

"Of course! But you gotta come with me! I need to show you something!"

"Well, lead the way..." The mayor snickered.

But once Owen swung the pantry door open, the cat was nowhere to be seen.

"Where did it go...?" Owen's voice was full of disappointment, he hung his head low.

"What?"

"A cat came in here... It was so cute, I hoped you would see it... And maybe we'd adopt it..."

"Yeah, there are a lot of stray cats around Oakhurst..." Louis hummed. "Well, if you get it to trust you, and promise to take care of it, we could totally keep it..."

"Really?" Owen's eyes lit up once more.

"Sure! Will give you something to do when I'm not around..." The mayor snickered. "Now, come on... You're probably hungry, aren't you?"

"Maybe a little..." Owen admitted reluctantly, before following him back inside.

---

The next day, Owen returned to the pantry with the explicit goal to wait for his new friend. He was still busy with his woodcarving, but he prepared a little plate with a few chunks of meat ready for the cat to return. His hunger was gnawing at him again, but this time, Owen did not feel as bad about talking a little chunk for himself to quell it. It actually helped him to focus and think a bit more clearly. His plans to carve a bird would no longer come to fruition... But he had another idea he really wanted to try out.

At some point, Owen heard the soft sound of the cat's fur sliding against the cracked-open window. He watched with baited breath as the pet descended on the floor the same way it did the last time, then approached the plate. For a moment, it smelled the meat, as if to check whether it was fresh and edible, then sunk his tiny fangs into it.

The vampire set his work aside and laid on his stomach, watching the cat with sparks in his eyes. The white fur on its snout, sides and paws reminded him of the color of Louis' hair. But besides that... He felt a strange sort of kinship with the heart. They matched in more ways than one would expect. It also perked its ears when listening to the surrounding sounds. Its pupils also dilated when it got curious about something. Its tiny fangs were quite sharp, perfect for ripping apart prey. And at the same time, its soft purring matched Owen's, especially when he watched the tiny animal do anything. The idea of keeping this little being home, cherishing it, taking care of it... The vampire couldn't wait for that to happen one day, hopefully. If only he got its trust, somehow...

After the cat was done eating, it laid down on its side and began licking its side with its scratchy tongue. This is when Owen could finally try out what he was working on... He grabbed the small, wooden cylinder he just finished carving out, and rolled him in the direction of the cat. The scraping sound made the animal pause and turn around, before it lunged straight at the makeshift toy. Owen couldn't hold back a giggle. It was the cutest thing he's ever seen... Once the toy rolled in his direction, he grabbed it and rolled it back towards the cat.

"I wish I was a cat, too..." He whispered. "Everything would be so much simpler... I wouldn't have to worry about humans being scared, or repulsed by me... Everyone would love me... Who doesn't love a cat, after all...?"

The cat pounced around the pantry, chasing after the toy it was given. At some point, it ended up landing on Owen's arms, its tiny claws digging into his skin. The vampire flinched, but held back a hiss. The last thing he wanted was to scare a cat... Instead, he carefully grabbed its paw and got it unstuck from his skin.

"Careful, silly..." He giggled, before pausing. He didn't notice that before, but the shape of the cat's claws... It was curved, just like Owen's. He wished he could retract his claws, just like the kitten did, but still... They matched in yet another way. He finally let go of its paw, to which the cat fell on its side, watching him curiously. "Hey, I just helped you! What do you want?"

The animal meowed, turning around and wriggling on its back. Owen hesitated for a second. Was it asking him to rub its belly...? It certainly looked like that... The vampire looked at his claws. What if he accidentally hurt the cat? What if he made it run away, and never return again...?

After a moment of hesitation, the vampire began gently stroking the cat's tummy. Immediately, it began purring, reaching its paws as far out in a stretch as it could. Owen held his breath once more. He had control, he wouldn't hurt the cat... They would be just fine. His own purring joined in, filling the pantry with a comfortable, sleepy atmosphere. And the cat's fur was so wonderfully soft...

"You're so cute..." Owen whimpered. 

He almost missed when all of a sudden, the door to the pantry creaked open.

"There you are..." Louis' soft voice carried up. Owen flinched, but did not move to his lover just yet. The cat immediately turned around and stood up, before heading back towards the window. "Oops, sorry!"

"Wait, no! Come back!" Owen pleaded with the animal. The kitten looked back at him for a moment, before climbing up the shelves and leaving the pantry again. The mayor sighed and approached his partner.

"I'm so sorry, sweetie..." He sighed. "If I had known it was here, I'd wait..."

"It let me pet it... Her? Feels like a her, I dunno why..." Owen sighed. "Her fur is so nice and warm..."

"I bet she's gonna return tomorrow..." Louis crouched next to his partner, stroking his hair lovingly. "Wanna come inside and eat something?"

"Sure, why not..." the fledgling muttered, before accepting help in getting back up and leaving the pantry.

---

The cat did not return the next day. She also didn't return the day after that, and then after. Owen spent time sitting in their pantry, but eventually, he just began believing that his newfound friend would not return to him. But it's fine, it wasn't Louis' fault... It had to happen eventually. Everyone left eventually, so why wouldn't she...?

That afternoon, Owen did not head down to the pantry. Instead, he was napping on the couch, after a sizable lunch consumed without Louis. His soft breathing and purring carried through the air. The vampire let down his hair, it spread across the soft pillows and curled wildly like a patch of unruly, white snow. He didn't even notice when his lover finally returned home, and quietly entered the house.

"Owen...?" Louis asked, then smiled when seeing his lover peacefully napping. His smile widened when he noticed a familiar, black-and-white shape, laying on top of his chest. "Oh gosh... Owen... Owen, wake up..."

"Mmmpfm...?" The fledgling hummed, slowly coming back to reality. He did feel a little weird, as if there was some sort of weight pressing on his chest... It took him a second to open his eyes and allow them to focus. Once they did, he spotted a gleeful, relaxed cat, loafing on his chest and purring loudly. She came back... Not only that, she decided to nap on top of Owen, out of literally every place there was.

"Oh gosh... Louis..." Owen whimpered in excitement. He reached out his hand and gently scratched the pet under her chin. The animal cracked one eye open, before closing it again and leaning into the scritches. "She came back..."

"I think she's here to stay..." Louis snickered, before crouching next to the sofa. "How are you gonna name her...?"

"I... I don't wanna name her," Owen admitted quietly. "If she has her own name... I think she will show me one day. I don't wanna name her something she wouldn't like."

The mayor smiled brightly. That was possibly the sweetest thing he had ever witnessed... Although, Owen immediately one upped himself, by beginning to purr alongside his new pet. 

"Welcome to the family, little one..." He whispered. "If you have some friends out there, I won't stop you... But you can come back anytime, you know?"

"Oh, great... So now I have to take care of two stray cats, huh?" Louis snickered, before leaning in to give his partner a soft kiss on the forehead. "We're gonna run out of food even faster now..."

"Hey, I can give up some of my food for her!" Owen immediately argued back, but his tone was clearly joking.

"Oh, can you really?" Louis teased him by poking his side. "I'd like to see that happen..."

"I swear! I'm gonna be the best cat dad in the world, I promise!" Owen snickered, before turning back to his new friend. Her big, golden eyes were staring straight into his deep, amber eyes. They almost looked like they could read each other's thoughts... The mayor snickered, before getting up to prepare them a lunch. He couldn't wait to see how this little fluffy thing will influence Owen's life... And his own too, most likely.

Chapter 25: The warmth from within

Summary:

Louis and Owen share a relaxing evening together.

Notes:

Funfact - originally, it was supposed to be two separate chapters, but I decided to put them together. Enjoy :3

Also! If you wanna help support my work, please check out this post on my Tumblr!

The past few days were particularly hard for Louis, with how busy he was at work. Most of the time, he hit the bed right after returning home, not giving his beloved partner much attention. And even though he could tell Owen was being understanding and thoughtful, he still couldn't help but feel like he was neglecting his favorite person. With that in mind, that afternoon, he returned home as early as he could, and immediately went into their pantry to retrieve some snacks for both of them to enjoy.

At that time, Owen was napping on the sofa, with his cat laying between his shoulderblades. Both of them were purring so loudly, Louis could hear it from all the way at the door. His partner's new pet did not seem to quite like him just yet - she sniffed him a couple of times, but didn't go much further than that. She clearly enjoyed the warmth of Owen's body much more than the dead coldness of Louis. Maybe she would change her mind with time...? Seeing how the two of them were in deep sleep, Louis began preparing everything. Aside from two big bottles of blood, he brought a bottle of red wine, which he opened and poured into glasses. All he needed was a relaxing evening with his partner, and some wine certainly wouldn't hurt... Louis did not drink often, but every now and then, he enjoyed a glass or two to clear his head.

Louis was just about to wake up his partner, but stopped when he heard Owen's quiet yawning. Looks like he woke up on his own, once he smelled the blood from one of the bottles... The fledgling twitched, but did not get up from the sofa just yet.

"Louis..." He muttered. "Can you take her off...? I don't wanna knock her off me..."

"Oh, you poor, trapped thing..." Louis snickered, approaching the sofa and crouching next to it. "Looks like cats are more effective on you than silver, huh?"

"Mmmmm... Sure, I guess..."

Carefully, Louis scooped up the cat. She let out a quiet, sleepy mrep, but ultimately allowed him to move her to the headrest of the couch. Slowly, Owen rose from his spot and began stretching.

"Thanks..." He murmured, then turned to Louis once the realization hit him. "You're home early...?"

"I am!" Louis confirmed with a smile. "I wanted to spend an evening with you... Just us, some wine, cuddles, maybe some music... What do you think?"

"Mmmm... I think you know what I think..." Owen smirked, before getting up and placing his warm hands on Louis' sides. "That sounds just wonderful..."

"I'm glad we're on the same page." The mayor leaned in, leaving a soft, gentle kiss on Owen's lips. "Hungry?"

"A little..." He muttered. "You think I should feed her first...?"

"I think she's too sleepy to eat now..." Louis snickered, before taking his lover's hand. "Come on, we can feed her once she wakes up..."

Soon, the two vampires sat down at the table, each equipped with a bottle of blood and a glass of wine. The scarlet tint of both liquids made them almost indistinguishable - if it wasn't for the difference in density, and smell. Louis took a sip of his alcohol and sighed with a relaxed expression. That's much better... He was looking forward to that the whole morning and noon.

"Something's wrong, honey?" He suddenly asked, seeing that Owen looked a bit apprehensive to eat.

"I just, um..." He whispered. "Is the alcohol not gonna mess me up? Like the garlic did...? I still remember how angry you were..."

"Oh, honey..." Louis reached over the table and grabbed Owen's hands. "I promise, this little amount will not do anything bad to you... And even if you get a little tipsy, I'm here to make sure nothing goes wrong. Okay?"

"Alright... I trust you..." The lumberjack smiled timidly, before taking a sip. Immediately, he twitched and frowned a little. "It's so... Sweet..."

"Sweet?" Louis couldn't hold back a chuckle.

"I'm just not used to wine, I guess..." He admitted with a sheepish smile. "I tried it maybe once, with you... Before, all I could really afford was the cheapest vodka..."

The mayor giggled at the sentiment.

"Well, I can get you some of that next time..."

"No no no, I like it! I just have to... Get used to it." Owen admitted, before taking another sip. His nose scrunched at the taste. "It's... Pretty good."

"I'm glad to hear that," Louis admitted with a smile.

Once the mayor was finished with his glass, he approached his fledgling and stood right behind his chair. His delicate hands slid down Owen's ribs, tracing the soft, healthy shape that he took. He was so incredibly warm... But not in the same way as when he was a human, and he was getting all these horrible fevers. That was the warmth of someone who came back to life, and was ready to live it to the fullest. Despite how ironic that sounded, given their circumstances.

"My gorgeous little thing..." The mayor murmured, his lips sliding over Owen's cheeks.

"You think I'm gorgeous?" Owen smiled, his cheeks reddening a little - either from the alcohol, or from adoration. Or both.

"You are... Absolutely stunning..." Louis whispered, his cheek nuzzling against Owen's. "The most beautiful vampire I've ever met..."

"You're such a flatterer..." The fledgling hummed quietly. "Can I at least get up, so that I can get a hug...?"

"Sure, fine..."

Owen rose from his chair and immediately fell into Louis' arms. He hadn't even drank much, but the alcohol in combination with the overwhelming love for his partner was making him feel warm and fuzzy inside. The mayor smirked, before picking up his partner and spinning him around with a laugh. Once he put him down again, he continued talking:

"Is it just me, or did you grow a little...?"

"I know I've gotten a bit more chubby while living here, you don't have to rub it in..." Owen snickered, resting his head against Louis' chest.

"No, no, not like that... Look at you," he put his finger under Owen's chin and guided it upwards. "Look at you... You got taller!"

"I- I did...?"

When they met, Louis was quite clearly the taller one - by a head, at first glance. Although, truth be told, Owen did appear shorter than he actually was, since being in constant pain caused him to slouch most of the time. But now that he recovered and was properly nourished... The mayor could tell that he got a little taller. He was still the shorter one out of the two, but the difference between them was a lot smaller. Louis never properly measured him, but if he was to guess, his lover grew around three inches since becoming a vampire.

"Is it normal for vampires?" Owen snickered. "I thought I was done growing, I'm an adult after all..."

"Well, my guess is..." Louis took his hands and kissed them gently. "Your illness and lack of proper nourishment may have stunted your puberty... So now that you're well and healthy, you can finish developing. And you got a little growth spurt out of that," the mayor smiled and kissed Owen's cheek. "But you're still the short one..."

"Of course I am..." Owen sighed fondly, before pulling Louis a little closer to himself. "It's not my fault you're just really tall..."

"I'm only average!" Louis giggled "You're just a small little thing..."

"Oh am I really?" The fledgling grinned, his fangs clicking open. "I'll give you small, alright..."

Immediately, Owen pulled the mayor into his arms and spun him around. He held him so effortlessly... It actually made the elder vampire feel a little lightheaded. He laughed, placing his hands on Owen's cheek and uniting them in a loving kiss.

"You're such a charmer..." He whispered, his voice choke-full of adoration and desire. "Where have you been all my life...?"

"Not born yet...?" The lumberjack snickered. "I think you forgot you're, like, ten times older than me..."

"Twenty one times, specifically." Louis grinned. "The world was such an awful place before you came..."

"Well, I'm not going anywhere, then!"

In the middle of their cuddling, Owen approached the bookshelf and selected the first record that got in his hands. He put it on the gramophone and turned it on, before pulling Louis into a dance. He didn't know exactly what he was doing, as he never got a chance to formally learn to dance - he just listened to his body and guided his partner accordingly. The house filled with upbeat music and their happy, relaxed laughter. Owen kept his hands as close to Louis as he possibly could, warming him up with his own body warmth.

"Careful!" Louis giggled once Owen pulled him close, before spinning him around and making him fall into his fledgling's arms. The alcohol was beginning to get into his head, the whole world was circling around them and their love-fueled dance. "You really are a natural!"

"I'm just doing what feels right!" The lumberjack grinned. His big, brown eyes were the brightest Louis has ever seen them. He was so incredibly adorable when he was happy... The mayor already knew that he would do anything to protect this smile. And each time he saw it again, that desire was only reinforced. "You need a break?"

"I'm good!" Louis snickered. He put his hands on Owen's shoulders, before pulling him into another kiss. The two of them shared a long, intimate moment, before resuming their dance full of love, admiration and need.

At some point, Owen returned to the table and finished drinking his wine. The taste still wasn't amazing, but the feeling itself, especially when shared with someone he loved so dearly... It was truly unmatched. While he was drinking, Louis slumped on the sofa with a tired, but relaxed smile. The last few days took a lot out of him, and this dance got him exhausted... But it was so worth it. He wouldn't mind just sitting like this and watching his partner continue on his own.

"You know..." He huffed, catching his breath "For how you complained, that you got fat and lazy... You've got some stamina... And you move wonderfully..."

Owen snickered.

"Well, maybe I'm not that bad off..." He admitted with a tinge of pride in his voice, before letting his hair down. "Ready for round two?"

"I need a break... But you don't have to wait for me..." Louis tilted his head back and sighed. "Damn, you have better stamina than I do..."

"Well, don't forget I worked every day since I was, like... Eleven? Twelve?" Owen snickered, leaning against the chair as he poured himself another glass. "And before that, I was just... Roaming the streets, looking for something to eat..."

"You poor, poor thing..." Louis sighed with a fond smile. "Taking you in was like adopting a stray cat, you know?"

"You're complaining?" Owen snickered.

"Oh, I'd never..."

Once he finished another glass, Owen put it aside and returned to his little dance. It felt so amazing to move without any pain and sluggishness... Finally, doing anything did not make him feel like he needed to lay down and regret his actions later. He was in charge, he had control over himself. He was safe, warm, full and loved... There was truly no better feeling than that. And the way the music tingled in his bones... He wouldn't change that feeling for anything else in the world. Especially when he knew that his most beloved man in the world was watching in awe.

"You really are gorgeous..." Louis smiled, watching his partner closely. "I love you so much..."

Owen approached the sofa and leaned over Louis. He was a bit sweaty and his hair was a mess - but the big, bright smile betrayed that he was having the time of his life. His eyes were shining brightly, with the amount of mischief and excitement one would not expect from someone who was sick and dying just months prior. Louis reached out and placed his hands on Owen's hips, before pulling him on his lap.

"My dearest... My sweetie... My Owen..." The mayor hummed, placing loving kisses all over Owen's face. "My sweetest... Kindest... Funniest... The most gorgeous person in the world... And only mine..."

"I am, only yours..." Owen confirmed, to which Louis let out a happy chitter noise. That's right... Owen loved him. He wouldn't leave him. He wouldn't abandon him, ever. Right...? "And I'm not going anywhere. Well, not that I can... You told me to stay put..."

"Just how I like it..." Louis smirked. "You're all for me, and not for anyone else..."

Louis pulled him into another greedy kiss, his hands sliding all over Owen. His weight and warmth over his lap was as if he was holding the world's most precious treasure. Because, truth be told, he was... He would do anything for this little fledgling. If he had to lay his body on a burning pyre for him, he absolutely would. Anything, to save that smile.

Once Owen pulled away from the kiss, he immediately transformed into a bat and took off. He circled around the ceiling, chirping and purring and flapping his wings loudly. Louis couldn't hide his smile. Someone got hit with vampire zoomies... The mayor really wanted to join him, but his exhaustion was already getting the better of him.

"Louis! Louis, come on!" Owen called out. "I wanna fly with you! Louis...?"

The bat dashed towards his partner. Only then, he finally noticed that his sire drifted off into a nap. Clearly, he was too tired after the past few days of hard work... And the alcohol clearly helped lull him into sleep. The bat landed on his lap and curled up tightly, trying to grasp at any warmth in his body. There was none, though... And at that moment, Owen needed some sort of warm, cosy place to hide. His head was a bit woozy, especially considering his tiny form, and he wasn't thinking clearly.

Eventually, after circling the house for long enough, Owen ended up sliding between Louis' coats, and hiding in his pocket. Cosy, warm, dark, hidden from view - just what he needed. All he needed was a little nap, so that he could regain his strength and return to dancing... The bat yawned, showing off his tiny, sharp fangs. Then, he curled up a bit deeper in the pocket, hid his snout in his wings, before falling asleep himself.

Notes:

Remember that, it will be important in the near future :3

Chapter 26: Coming clean

Summary:

Owen has a chance to pay back for all the problems he caused Louis.

Notes:

I know Goldsmiths' guide to proper vampirism just ended today, but I really wanted to write this... It's another one of those chapters I've been looking forward to for a long, long time. Hope you enjoy it :3

Also, thank you so much for 10k hits on this! I can't believe you guys are enjoying this silly little thing so much!

Owen only vaguely remembered being woken up by something moving around him. Or, rather, something moving him. He was still a bit hungover after his night of dancing and kissing with his partner, and being in this tiny, feral form of a bat did not help his common sense. The vampire just turned around, hid his snout in his wings, then fell into an even deeper sleep.

Once he finally began waking up, it was due to someone's unfamiliar, muffled voice speaking over his head. The bat let out a quiet squeal. Did something come to the house again? Who was that? His ears twitched, as he tried to pick up on the voice- Voices, as there were two of them. One of them was definitely Louis - he would recognize that angelic voice anywhere and anytime. But the other... He couldn't recall it. Was that Scott, or Morcant...? No, none of them sounded like that. None of them spoke like that, to be more precise. Owen squinted, focusing on the conversation despite the static in his head.

"We understand, mister mayor, that the town don't want to lay their precious money on this - but we already had people injured because of how bad our roads are! Not to mention, your people need jobs! You lay your penny once, and you'll be set for decades, I assure you!"

"Yes, yes, I understand... It's about time we catch up with the rest of the country, and equip Oakhurst with cobbled roads..." Louis's voice was calm and very matter-of-fact. "If you could give me an estimate of how much time and money that would take, I'm sure we can work out a solution."

Owen fought the urge to peek out of the little nest he made in the pocket of Louis' coat. The way this man spoke to him, called him 'mister mayor'... They probably weren't friends, merely acquaintances. Did he come to the mayor's home to specifically talk about renovating the roads of Oakhurst?

Were they even at home, though...?

Carefully and as quietly as he could in his slightly inebriated state, Owen poked his snout out of the pocket. His question was immediately answered. They weren't home. He recognized the inside of Louis' office as the mayor - the pretty walls painted white with many paintings and portraits adorning them, the tall bookshelves stacked with important documents, his big, heavy desk... At this moment, Louis was sitting in his comfy chair, talking to some older, broad man that Owen didn't recognize. His partner didn't see him from all the way over at the other end of the room, where his coat was hanging. The fledgling shivered at the realization. Looks like the alcohol got into not only his head last evening... Louis must've not noticed in the morning that his partner, in a stroke of drunken genius, decided to take a nap in his pocket. And that way, Owen ended up in the mayor's office. Despite being strictly prohibited from leaving the house at all.

"We will get that prepared, mister mayor. You're doing the town a big service!"

"I'm merely here to help..." Louis answered softly with that diplomatic smile of his, that almost got Owen distracted again. He shook his head. He will appreciate all of his partner's cuteness later. First, he had to figure out what he should do. 

Would it be better to just stay here and wait until Louis returns home, and then sneak out? Should he out himself once the worker leaves, and just admit to making a silly mistake? Both options seemed risky... He wouldn't mind staying in his cosy nest, but his stomach was already growling and Owen wasn't sure how much longer he'd stand it. And the last thing he wanted was to upset Louis again... He was aware that as much as Louis loved him, he messed up quite a bit in the past. His own insecurity was beginning to whisper into his ear that at some point, Louis would get fed up with this... And with each mishap, it was getting harder and harder to fight this feeling.

Owen carefully watched as the stranger got up from his chair and left the office after shaking Louis' hand. That sweet, understanding smile that the mayor had on his face... Each time the fledgling saw it, he felt himself falling in love with his man over and over again. He wouldn't mind, right...? But then again, Owen could stay for a little longer... Make sure no one else barges in, and interrupts them in such a delicate moment... That would possibly be the worst thing that could happen at this point. Louis already put so much work into keeping them secret... Ruining it would be a disaster.

After the worker left, Louis began sorting through and reading the papers left on his desk. Oh, he was so adorable when he was focusing... His red eyes got even deeper, and he tightened his lips into this thin, straight line. Owen couldn't help but let out a tiny little squeak. Guessing by a lack of Louis' reaction, he didn't hear it... Or didn't think anything of it. Maybe he knew that Owen was there...? No, that was very unlikely. But then again, Owen wished for a long time that he could accompany his partner at work one day... He just didn't expect it to happen like this.

Just as Owen was making his decision to transform and approach Louis, both of them heard knocking on the door to his office. It sounded quite... Forceful. The fur on the bat's back immediately straightened in fear. It sounded too familiar... He did not like where this was going.

"Come on in!" Louis exclaimed, his eyes still glued to the documents.

"Good morning, mister mayor..."

Three tall men entered the office. Owen did not recognize any of them - although, truth be told, it was hard to recognize anyone in his state. The one standing at the front of the group began talking, presumably speaking for his companions as well.

"Won't you mind if we occupy a few minutes of your precious time, mister mayor?"

"No, not at all! It's literally my job, to listen to the people of Oakhurst and help them..." Louis snickered. 

He seemed... Unaware of how the man was talking. But Owen picked up on that. Too many times, people spoke to him in this manner... With so much sarcasm, downright hostility. The bat leaned a bit closer, still careful to not fall out of the pocket and betray his presence.

"Apparently, you do..." The man slammed his hands on the desk. "Then what will you say about the people that are disappearing from town?"

Louis' smile immediately faded. His body language became a bit more withdrawn, placing him somewhere between looking concerned and... Guilty. Owen tensed, wishing he could swoop in and defend his beloved partner.

"People are disappearing...? I- I wasn't aware of- Who are you talking about, exactly?"

"Oh, so you don't know?" The man scoffed. Owen hated the tone of his voice, choke-ful of anger and sarcasm. "You haven't noticed that in just the past two months, two members of our community vanished without a trace?"

Louis carefully shook his head. It wasn't the first time someone came to him to complain about his work, sure - the people of Oakhurst loved their mayor, but he was far from infallible. But it was rare he saw someone so... Aggressive.

"First of all... You remember that lumberjack, Owen? No one has seen him in months, his house looks abandoned..."

The fledgling's mouth dropped open. They... They picked up on his 'disappearance'...? It's true, he's been appearing a lot less out in public lately, especially since his... Incident. And his old house now stood empty somewhere on the outskirts of Oakhurst. But he hasn't disappeared, he was right there... Oh, how much he wanted to jump out of the pocket and announce that he was actually safe and sound...

"Well, Owen is-"

"And second... Our dear pastor has not been seen around Oakhurst in almost two months. No one knows where he is, not even his clergies..."

Owen felt his unbeating heart drop to his stomach. At the time when he thought he would be able to put that incident past him... It came back to bite him- No, worse. It came back to bite Louis, who had nothing to do with it. The bat hid a bit deeper, a fresh wave of shame washing over him.

"The pastor...? I heard that he wanted to travel to the Capital, but..." Louis scrunched his eyebrows. "You're right, I haven't seen him lately..." For a second, a thought popped into the mayor's head. Was that the person that Owen... No, no, it was impossible. He would've told him, right...?

"He wouldn't have just left without telling anyone, would he?"

"I... No, no, I don't think so..." Louis agreed, his voice getting quieter and more timid. 

His chest immediately tensed. They weren't wrong... As the mayor, he should keep tabs on everyone in the town. But he did forget about the pastor, a man he frankly didn't speak to all that much... And the fact they picked up on Owen's 'disappearance' as well wasn't good, either. What was he supposed to tell them? That now they lived together? Even without the whole vampirism aspect, it could come off as... Suspicious. There were things that the people of small towns like Oakhurst did not understand, nor accept. Louis knew that first hand. The mayor slowly got up from his chair, then approached the window and opened it, to let fresh air in.

"So you admit it, mister mayor... There are people disappearing from the town, and you have been doing nothing about that," the man responded sharply.

"Maybe you have something to do with this, mister mayor?" Another one of the men spoke up suddenly.

Owen let out a quiet growl. What were these idiots doing? Were they accusing Louis of harming Owen and the pastor? He did no such thing... He was the kindest, sweetest man in this whole rotten world, and anyone that thought otherwise was a damned fool. But it wasn't safe to just transform into a human and explain everything, was it? Unless... Owen's eyes darted to the window. A plan began hatching in his head. Maybe there was something he could do, after all...

"I'm- It's difficult to keep tabs of everyone living in Oakhurst, gentlemen," Louis struggled to keep his voice calm, and not shaking. "There are over two thousand and eight hundred people living here. I'm sorry I wasn't made aware of their disappearance, but-"

Suddenly, something moved in the room. It felt like a small, dark shape dashed towards the window and disappeared. All of the men were taken aback for a second. Was that a bird? A rat? Louis squinted, looking for the critter that just passed him by. But there was nothing there... He took a deep breath, but before he could continue, the leader of the group cut him off again.

"Made aware? We understand, mister mayor, if you haven't noticed Owen's disappearance - maybe this curse of his claimed him somewhere in the forest... But our beloved pastor? This dear man of God vanished without a trace, and you didn't even notice that?"

"Our mayor is not a particularly religious person... Are you, sir?" The third man, who hasn't spoken yet, suddenly opened his mouth. Louis tensed, his claws digging into the underside of his desk. It was so unbelievably hard to not just lunge at them and slit their throats... But he couldn't. That would cause a catastrophe. He needed to be reasonable about this.

"That is true, I am not a particularly spiritual person..." Louis agreed. "But that doesn't mean I don't care about the disappearance of these men. I will do whatever I can to make sure their whereabouts are known."

"Now?" The man scoffed "They could be long dead by now! How do we know that you don't have anything to do with this, and just hoped no one would notice?" He took a step forward. Louis shivered and backed off, hiding his twitching claws behind his back. They were close, way too close for comfort... He needed to do something, but there was nothing that could be said to make his situation better. If he could only show them that at least one of these people were safe and sound-

And then, suddenly, all of them heard knocking on the door. The three men turned around in concern.

"C- Come in!" Louis called out. Maybe if they had witnesses, the men wouldn't hurt him...?

"Good morning, mister mayor!"

Louis almost gasped when the door swung open, and out of everyone, Owen entered his office. His eyes were bright and excited, his long, white hair let down. He was still wearing the same clothes as last night. The men were clearly taken aback by his sudden appearance.

"Owen...? You're... Alive?" One of the strangers asked.

"Well, yes!" The lumberjack snickered, then turned to Louis. "I just came back to town, and wanted to say hello!"

"You... You did...?" Louis tried putting on a confident tone, but failed. How...? Was he aware of just how much the mayor needed him at this exact moment? 

"Yes!" Owen smiled, then turned to the man and continued speaking with surprising nonchalance "Would you gentlemen believe it? Our kind mayor paid out of his own pocket for carpentry apprenticeship, all the way out in the Capital! Truly a life changing experience..."

"Apprenticeship... Yes..." Louis confirmed weakly, then quickly added "Yes, that's right! I'm glad you returned to us, Owen..."

"Hold on..." The leader of the men took a step back. "Your bandages... What about your curse?"

"Oh, this?" Owen raised his hand. "Our wonderful mayor contacted a doctor, who finally managed to cure my condition! Isn't that wonderful?"

"And that hair..." The man that spoke up did not seem partial to Owen's new look. The lumberjack snickered, pulling his hand through his long, white hair.

"Oh, right... I got a little... Bold, while living in the Capital, and wanted to... Experiment a little. But I think it looks pretty nice!"

"I think you look really good in white, Owen," Louis said with a gentle smile. "I'm glad you enjoyed your stay in the Capital..."

"Hold on, wait," one of the men suddenly said. "We know what happened to Owen now. But the pastor...?"

"Oh, I saw him in the Capital, actually!" The fledgling smiled. "Had a little chat with him... Said that he misses Oakhurst, but his calling is in the Capital now... I don't think he's coming back anytime soon. Such a shame, I loved his sermons... Whenever I wasn't kicked out of the church..." He added a bit quietly.

"Oh..." The men looked at each other, a bit lost at the arguments that just got knocked out of their hands. "Well, then..."

"Do you have anything else you want to talk about, gentlemen?" Louis asked, finally a bit more confident with Owen's reassurance.

"No... We don't," the leader confirmed.

"I'm glad we're on the same page now. And if you'll excuse me, I need to talk with Owen about how his trip went, and how he can... Repay for all of the expenses," he added in a little bit of a teasing tone, winking to his partner.

"Oh, don't worry about that, mister mayor, I'll repay everything, and some extra..." He responded playfully.

Quickly, the three men left the office. Owen followed them to the door and locked them. The second they were finally alone, Louis slumped on his chair with a whine.

"Oh, Owen..." He whimpered. "I'm glad my heart is no longer beating, I thought I was gonna have a heart attack..."

"Don't worry, I would never let these guys touch you..." Owen smiled and approached his partner, before sitting down on his desk.

"How... How did you even know I needed your help...?" The mayor looked up at his savior.

"Let's say a little bat told me..." The fledgling grinned playfully.

"A little bat...?"

"And that bat was me. What I mean, is... I hitched a ride in the pocket of your coat."

"Owen!"

"It was an accident! Besides, you didn't even notice!" The lumberjack snickered, then leaned over his partner. "I've gotchu, don't worry..."

"Well, I guess I can't stay mad at you..." Louis sighed. "You might've just saved my life..."

"I think that's a stretch..." Owen rolled his eyes. "What did you think they were gonna do to you? Burn their beloved mayor at stake?"

"I- I don't know... My reputation in Oakhurst is good, but that doesn't mean there are no people who don't wish me well..." Louis sighed and slumped even deeper in his chair. He was slowly calming down from this whole encounter, but then, a thought returned to him like a hit to the back of his head. "Owen...? What you said about the pastor... It was a lie, wasn't it...?"

"Well, I wasn't in the Capital, was I...?" Owen's voice suddenly lost a lot of his confidence.

"Was he... Was he the man you killed...?"

The fledgling tensed, then immediately averted eye contact. So Louis was right... He took a deep breath, struggling to not react too forcefully. Owen just saved his life, but at the same time... He was partially to blame for this whole mess.

"I'm sorry, Louis, I..." He sighed, then raised his head to his forehead. He pulled away a stray lock of his hair, showing off a small, burned mark just under his hairline. "I panicked. We were just talking, and he suddenly pulled out holy water... He found me out, I couldn't risk it..."

"It's..." Louis took a deep breath. "Well, I can't say 'it's okay', but... We'll figure it out." The mayor finally sat up straight and took Owen's hands into his, then kissed them gently. "You gotta tell me about this stuff, okay? I just want to protect you..."

"And I want to protect you," Owen smiled gently, before bending over and leaving a little kiss on Louis' forehead. "I would do it again if that meant keeping you safe... But I'd rather not."

"Well, you did figure out this situation pretty smoothly..." Louis snickered. "I guess I'm glad that my boyfriend is so smart and quick on his feet..."

Owen smiled, then left another little kiss on the mayor's cheek. Even if someone could come in at any moment... He really wanted to bask in this moment of comfort and safety. Finally, they were on the same page. Maybe they would be fine, at last...

"Well, that thing you said about repaying me..." Louis looked up at him, his eyes lighting up playfully. "Did you mean it, or...?"

"Well, I could've..." Owen snickered. "But how is a poor, sick lumberjack gonna repay you, oh mighty mayor?" He asked, fixing up his shirt a little. 

"You're no longer sick, to begin with..." Louis snickered, before grabbing his collar and pulling him closer. "And as for being poor... I think I have some ideas on how we can go around that..."

"Oh, I can't wait..." Owen purred, before his lover pulled him into a big, loving kiss.

---

That afternoon, Louis left his office hand in hand with his partner. At first, he was a bit afraid of such a public show of affection - after all, the people of Oakhurst could interpret it in so many different ways... Not to mention, Owen looked so differently compared to how everyone saw him last. But since he now had an excuse to that, and seemed so much more confident in himself... Louis eventually allowed his beloved to guide him back home. The whole time, the vampire couldn't get enough of how happy and self-assured his lover looked. Such a stark contrast to when Louis met him; sick, quiet, timid and scared... Now, he was actually greeting people that passed them by, and did not seem too upset when some people still avoided getting too close to him. It's true, the scars of his old illness would never quite fade away... But, slowly but surely, he was learning to live with them.

"You're not afraid that these people are gonna... Think... Things...?" Louis chuckled nervously at him.

"So what? They can't do anything about it, can they?" Owen shrugged it off, before adding a bit more solemnly "All my life, I had people reject me, recoil at my sight, see me as a monster. But now that I know that I'm not one... I can show that to them, too. And even if they don't agree... It's no longer my problem. I have you, I don't need their acceptance..."

The mayor smiled brightly. He truly did fall for the wisest man he's ever met... The second the door closed behind them, he grabbed Owen and gave him a big, loving kiss.

"I love you... So, so much..." He whispered.

"I love you too..." Owen purred, before looking him in the eyes. "At least now I have an excuse as to why my hair is white..."

"You're right..." Louis giggled.

"Does that mean I can finally start going outside again...?"

Louis took a deep breath. He should no longer stall that, should he? Owen was more than capable of taking care of himself... And if someone ever questioned him again, he knew how to wriggle out of any situation. Finally, the mayor wrapped his arms around Owen's shoulders, and put their foreheads together.

"I... I think you can. Just... Be careful, okay?"

The lumberjack gasped. He grabbed his partner by the hips, before giving him a long, loving kiss. The second he pulled away, he glued himself off Louis and dashed towards the living room, from where he returned with his axe.

"Don't wait for me with dinner! I love you! Bye!" Owen left one last quick peck on Louis' lips, before dashing outside and towards the forest outside of Oakhurst.

Louis couldn't hold back his laughter. That was possibly the silliest thing he's seen... But he couldn't blame Owen. As comfortable as the mayor's house was, he definitely missed the freedom of the outside world... For a second, the elder vampire wanted to chase after him - but then, he rejected that idea. Something told him that he didn't have to worry whether Owen would come back to him.

Notes:

Owen's being-stuck-at-home arc is finally over! Our boy is free! :3

Chapter 27: A study in loneliness, pt. 1

Summary:

Louis spends a whole day at home, without Owen by his side.

At first, after Owen left the house, Louis expected him to be back before it got dark outside. He was fully ready to rest a little, maybe take a little nap, and then wait for him with dinner - despite what his partner told him. After all, he didn't really have anywhere to go, did he? It's not like he would disappear for long, would he?

The mayor slumped in his bed and sighed heavily. As much as he loved spending time with Owen, and as grateful was for his partner's intervention, sometimes he just needed some time for himself to rest and regain his strength. Once he hears a soft, purring sound next to him, Louis' eyes slowly fluttered open. Owen's cat occupied her owner's pillow, curled up tightly with her head turned upside down. The mayor smiled and reached out his hand.

"Hey there..." He whispered. The cat let out a soft meow once his cold finger touched her warm side, but she allowed Louis the privilege of petting her. "Your dad will be back a bit later... For now, it's just the two of us, okay?"

The cat responded with a soft purr, before returning to her nap. Louis turned on his back with a deep breath. It would be fine if he just took a quick nap... Owen will surely wake him up once he's back. The vampire tightly wrapped himself in blankets, glad that for once he didn't have to give up all of them to Owen. For someone with such high body temperature, he loved hoarding every warm item that Louis had... His natural nesting instincts were quite strong. Well, he deserved a safe, warm place to hide in, after years of being cold, sick and completely on his own...

And yet, when he got a chance to run, he took it immediately.

Louis opened his eyes, staring into the ceiling, as if he sought his answers there. Was that because Louis kept him locked up at home for too long...? He had a good reason, though - he couldn't risk that someone would find out about the new vampire in town, and possibly try to harm Owen. And yet, Owen himself managed to get out of this situation without attracting too much suspicion... Was Louis in the wrong? Did he overreact? And did that overreaction of his do more harm than good? The elder vampire groaned quietly and turned on his side, tightly wrapping himself in blankets. He knew he messed up, he did that far too many times in his life... Did he upset Owen with that, to the point he left for good? Immediately, the image of Owen's pleading eyes and disappointed expression flashed in Louis' mind. No, he wouldn't... Or would he...?

Finally, the vampire managed to fall asleep - but it was a light, paranoid sleep, full of strange, unexplainable dreams. The mayor tossed and turned, sometimes calling out the name of his partner. Even now, he was deathly worried for his partner. What if his 'don't wait for me with dinner' meant ‘I'm leaving and never coming back'? What if he just waited for an opportunity to flee? Louis was immediately reminded of most of his previous fledglings, how they all just waited for an opportunity to run... And this was supposed to be different. It wasn't, was it...? He was alone, again. The only thing that he never wanted to experience again, happened. And Louis could only blame himself.

---

In the middle of the night, Louis woke up from his exhausting nap. Immediately, he looked around the room, looking for any traces of his lover's return - there were none. He whined quietly and curled up even tighter, wishing he could just get so small he would disappear. So Owen hasn't returned for dinner, just like he said... But Louis had to eat something, as his hunger was getting unbearable. Slowly, he pulled himself out of the bed, then wobbled towards the kitchen.

Usually, he was way better put together than this - but that night, all he really had the strength to do was pull out a piece of beef from the pantry and chew on it raw. The whole time, he felt disgusted with himself. He overreacted, didn't he? Just because Owen didn't return home for the night, didn't mean that he wouldn't come back at all... He had his own life, and Louis felt as if he was denying him that. He ripped out another piece of meat, which he began stuffing into his mouth to drown out the feelings. Just because his other fledglings left him, didn't mean Owen would... No, he definitely wouldn't. He was such a sweet, loving and kind person, he wouldn't just abandon him without saying goodbye... He just needed his first taste of freedom in months. 

As Louis sat there on the floor, staring out into the distance, something warm and fluffy rubbed against his leg with a meow. Immediately, Louis pulled out a piece of meat from his stash and tossed it on the ground. The cat immediately began chewing on it, loud purring escaping from her chest.

"It's stupid, isn't it...?" He sighed, hoping that at least Owen's pet would listen to him. "A five hundred and thirty year old man, unable to stay alone for a few hours... I'm just that pathetic, I guess..."

The cat turned in his direction. Her big, golden eyes stared in her direction for a while, silently judging him. Then, she returned to her little feast.

"I just..." Louis pulled his knees closer to his chest. "Owen is so lovely, he... Accepts me. I think... I mean, I haven't told him everything yet... Like how I ended up a vampire... Or how I became the mayor... But he wouldn't reject me for that, would he...? He... Loves me..." The mayor's voice broke for a second. It was easy enough to appear confident when in front of other people, who knew him as the kind, reliable mayor... But doing this in front of himself was a whole other story. "And if he leaves... I don't know what I'm gonna do, if he leaves. I'll probably just... Give up."

Louis lifted himself from the ground, snatching the closest bottle of blood from one of the shelves. He then left the room, leaving the door cracked open so that the cat could easily leave whenever she needed. After crashing on the couch, he popped the bottle open and took a big sip. The whole couch smelled like Owen... Sweaty, foresty, a little sweet. No wonder it was his favorite place to nap... It was comfy, soft, and far enough from the window that the tiniest bits of sunlight that reached him warmed him up, without actually burning him. Louis tilted his head to the side, in the direction of the window. He could clearly see the moon from there - it was growing slowly, and would probably reach its full stage in just a few nights. Usually the full moon had a rejuvenating effect on the mayor, it left him feeling more refreshed and energized than the best nap... While it seemed to have the opposite effect on Owen. Whenever there was a full moon, he was more restless, snappy, nervous. Especially during the time when he wasn't allowed outside. Immediately, Louis' head became clouded with worries again. All of the ways in which Owen was different, that he picked up on... There had to be an actual explanation to this. As much as Louis hated to admit that, his knowledge about vampires was pretty lacking. He only knew as much as Scott decided to teach him - otherwise, seeking information by himself was risky. Even during the roughly two hundred years when Louis didn't live in the area, he never met that many vampires, never got to learn too much about them. Was there something actually wrong with Owen? Or was it just another part of vampirism that Louis just wasn't aware of? Should he be concerned? Was there something he could do to help him? Or was this simply out of his scope?

The mayor didn't remember when he finished his bottle of blood, he only remembered it slipping out of his hand once it got empty. For a second, he fought the urge to get up and return to bed, but his exhaustion for the better of him. He slumped even deeper on the couch, before closing his eyes and falling asleep once more.

---

In the morning, when Louis woke up, it was clear he wasn't up for working that day. His head was buzzing, his body felt weak and sluggish, and the bloody taste in his mouth had not vanished just yet. For a while, the mayor just laid there, staring at the inside of his house, pondering what to do with himself. He could do all the things he didn't want to do when Owen was around, like cleaning up... And as much as his body screamed at him to stay on the couch and take it easy for the day, his strong feeling of responsibility eventually won.

Without even eating breakfast first, Louis prepared a full bucket of water to mop the floors. Once he did that, he would clean the bathroom, wash the windows, maybe change the bedsheets... He was used to cleaning around the house, especially back when he lived with his parents. Usually, it was his and his mother's responsibility, to keep everything nice and tidy. And he didn't mind it - after all, he was taught that it was his responsibility to take care of the house...

Once that thought popped back into his head, Louis slumped against the mop he was holding and sighed. Was he doing that only because that's what the gender norms that he was taught dictated...? No, he was doing it because he enjoyed having a clean house. The vampire shook his head, then began washing the floor. It was long overdue for some proper washing... Especially during the winter, so much mud and grime got in, Louis felt quite a bit embarrassed he let it get this bad. After a moment, the mayor decided to put on some music on his gramophone, before returning to his cleaning duty.

As the sun slowly travelled up in the sky, Louis washed all of the floors, scrubbed the bathroom clean, then cleaned all of the windows. That last part was particularly annoying, as the sun was quite strong that day - but he didn't want to wait with it until it got dark. Somewhere deep inside, he was hoping that Owen would return before that... As Louis began changing the bedsheets, he watched solemnly as the sun started lowering over the horizon. He should probably eat something soon, even if Owen wouldn't be back just yet... He sighed, hugging his partner's pillow before taking off the cover. Instead of tossing it away with all the other laundry, he put it up to his face and sniffed it. Once again, this wonderful scent... He didn't even mind whenever his partner forgot to wash himself for a few days. This nice, sweaty smell of his was so nice and reassuring... He really did still smell like a human, and not like a vampire...

It was probably unfair to judge Owen like this. He's only been a vampire for just over half a year at this point... Compared to Louis' over five hundred years of experience, it was as if he was born yesterday. And compared to how old Louis' sire was... He shivered at the memory. It was somewhat relieving that Scott seemed to like, or at least tolerate Owen... But would that mean he'd try to influence him at some point? No, no, he couldn't, that'd ruin everything... He would put all these ideas in Owen's head, trying to change him to match his image... Louis' fingers tightened on the pillow case. He didn't know why Scott suddenly returned, and what he wanted from them... But he could only hope he would not return anytime soon. And even if he did, he would at least have the strength to kick him out right away.

Once the bedsheets were changed, Louis fell back on the couch with a heavy sight. The cat was sleeping on the table, but he didn't feel like taking her off it. Cats are very clean creatures, they say... And Louis couldn't help but see bits of Owen in her. He was also so cat-like, even more so than any other vampire he met... None of his other fledglings were quite like him. The ones that left, the one that was ripped away from him... Louis tilted his head back, deep in thoughts. He began wondering, where were they now... How many of them were still alive? Morcant and Owen, for sure, but the others...? Would he ever get to see them again? Would he even see these two again...?

Then, all of a sudden, the door swung open.

"Hi, Lou!" 

The vampire jumped up from the couch and ran up to the door. His partner was just taking off his dirty, muddy shoes - all of his clothes were quite dirty and muddied. His hair was loose, with tiny twigs and leaves sticking out of them. His eyes were this bright, amber color, so full of energy and excitement - a stark contrast to the comfy, quiet laziness that settled on his face in the past weeks. Owen put his axe against the wall, before pulling something from behind his back. A bouquet of wild flowers - bluebells, marigolds, daffodils, primroses.

"For you!" Owen smiled brightly. "Sorry they're a little crumpled, I fell over when I was going back home... You alright?"

"You came back..." Louis whispered, his eyes slowly filling with tears.

"Well, duh! What else could I do? Not return?"

Louis pulled his partner into a tight, loving hug, before giving him a big kiss on the cheek. He did return... He didn't just take this opportunity and run, and never see Louis again. That was the confirmation he needed all this time... This time, it was going to be just as he wished. 

"You've been out for a while..." Louis giggled. "Did you do anything fun?"

"I can tell you everything I did! But first..." Owen yawned and stretched. "I think I need a nap..."

"That's fair... Come on, we can lay down together.

Louis led Owen inside. He found an empty vase that he filled with water and put the bouquet inside. By the time he was finished, Owen was already laying on the couch, half asleep. He took off his dirty shirt, only leaving him in his pants and socks. The mayor smiled, before laying down by his side. He pulled his delicate, cold hand by his warm side, appreciating just how comfy and healthy his partner felt. The fledgling wrapped his arms around Louis, pulling him closer. With a relieved sigh, the elder vampire hid his nose in Owen's hands, before both of them drifted off into peaceful sleep.

Notes:

I hope you enjoyed this slightly experiemtnal chapter...... I think you can guess what the next one will be about :3

Chapter 28: A study in loneliness, pt. 2

Summary:

Owen spends a whole day in the forest, without Louis by his side.

Notes:

I feel like my words weren't exactly wording with this one..... Still, I hope you enjoy this one ^^

At first, after leaving the house, Owen's head was filled with joy and excitement for what awaited him outside. As much as he loved spending all of his time with Louis, he spent most of his life in the forests around Oakhurst - and he missed them deeply while being stuck at home. There was just something so liberating about it, unmatched by anything else Owen could possibly experience. The hum of naked branches over his head, the shy chirping of birds that began emerging from their winter nests, the quiet rustling of grass under his shoes... Quickly, Owen left the trotted road and headed deeper into the woods, one of the many paths only he knew.

Spring was slowly coming in, the land was only covered in a thin, fluffy layer of snow. The lack of foliage gave him a good look at his surroundings - as far as he could tell, he was completely alone, only accompanied by his trusted axe. The rush with which he left the house meant he didn't even put on a coat or anything - but to his surprise, the vampire didn't feel like he needed it. As a human, his illness and his withered figure meant that he was always cold - only the strong summer sun made him feel any kind of warmth on his damaged bones. But now, he was just fine walking around in just a long shirt and thick pants. Could be due to his healthier physique, or the natural body heat that was unlike that of any other vampire, or just because as an undead, he wasn't so bothered by the chilly weather. Owen only stopped once he entered a little clearing in the woods, and took a deep breath. The cold air scratched at his lungs.

"Sorry, Lou..." He said out loud, as if hoping that his partner would hear it. "I love you, but... I needed this."

The first stop on the vampire's journey was his old house. Last time he was in the forest, he didn't come closer to it. This time, however, he walked up to the frosted window and decided to peek inside. Everything was just as he left it - his old bed, the patchy blankets, the damaged fireplace, the crooked table and chair. The walls were thin, wooden, cracked from the harsh conditions. For a second, Owen hesitated whether he should enter. He had no obligation to come back to this place. He never even liked it that much, truth be told... It was cramped, and cold, and never felt like home. Especially once Owen was left alone, to fend for himself for the rest of his life. Ultimately, however, he decided to push the door and enter.

After taking a glance around, Owen crashed on the bed with a heavy sigh. The air inside was stale and heavy, still filled with the scent of his old sickness. It was such a strange experience, to just be able to lay there without any pain and hunger... Before, those were among the only things he felt throughout his days in the woods. Hunger, pain, crushing loneliness. The feeling that he didn't deserve anyone in his life - because if he did, why would they never stick around with him...? But now, that has changed. He had someone to return to, someplace to call home. And it wasn't just a small, crooked cabin somewhere in the woods. The vampire took a long, deep breath. The bed was far from comfy, but something about laying there made him feel sleepy... Before he ever noticed, the lumberjack drifted off into a nap.

---

Owen woke up late in the night, at a dull stab of hunger in his stomach. The vampire groaned and turned on his side, not wanting to get up just yet. 

"Five more minutes..." He grumbled to himself.

Sleep didn't return to him, but he found his mind drifting off into memories. He rarely let himself have the mythical 'five more minutes' in bed - to make ends meet, he worked from sunrise to sunset, only taking breaks when his body was beginning to give out. The meals he could afford were modest - if anyone in town was even willing to take his money, that is. All he could afford was usually some potatoes and bread, sometimes supplied by mushrooms, herbs and berries he found in the forest. Truth be told, he never really ate much meat before becoming a vampire... Even stranger how easy it was for him to switch. Maybe it was purely thanks to the relief of not even being able to eat all these thing that he already got sick off. Most of his money went towards traveling to nearby towns and cities and paying for doctor appointments. Whenever Owen thought about just how much time, money and effort he wasted on all the fruitless treatments, his stomach twisted. If only he knew that the answer to all of his problems laid there, in Oakhurst, all of this time... A few years before meeting Louis, the lumberjack finally gave up. At this point, his illness got so bad that he decided to just prolong his life as long as he could, before it would inevitably claim him. It was a sad thought, that he would never get to reach the age of thirty... But if that meant the pain would stop, then so be it.

And that got Owen thinking. If it wasn't for Louis saving him that beautiful night... Just how much longer would he have...?

Finally, once the hunger hit him with another painful wave, the vampire slowly rose from his bed. The moon outside was big and bright, close to full. Owen already noticed that in the recent months, it began taking a toll on him - whenever the full moon was approaching, he was beginning to feel strange, restless, hungry. He could only hope that Louis didn't notice anything... He didn't seem to be affected by the phases of the moon. Was that another thing that seemed to be wrong with Owen...?

When Owen left the house, he noticed that it began snowing once more. Tiny speckles of snow dancing in the air, reinforcing the thin white layer covering the land. The vampire spent a moment, trying to figure out how to keep his footsteps as quiet as possible. He already learned how to move soundlessly around the house - but this was different, when the ground was covered in snow, rotting leaves and broken twigs... Mindful of each step, he vanished between the trees.

The silence and stillness of the forest gave him this strange sense of peace. He was a part of it all his life, but now, he felt even closer to it, somehow - despite how much time he spent away from nature. His eyes quickly adjusted to the darkness and eventually, Owen noticed a wild badger, poking its head out of its lair. Immediately, his pupils dilated, and the vampire instinctively bent over, to appear smaller and less threatening. His silent footsteps approached the unsuspecting animal, getting closer and closer - until Owen lunged straight at the animal. His claws and fangs sunk into its nape, holding his prey until it stopped squirming. That was certainly a new taste. Earthly, thick, a little spicy. Owen sat on the soft snow, greedily slurping the blood, until there was nothing left to drink. Then, he began ripping the meat out of the animal, trying to satisfy his wild cravings.

Eventually, the badger was nothing but a pile of skin and bones that Owen hid in its lair to hide evidence. While licking and wiping off the leftover blood from his fingers, the vampire fell on his back with a sigh. Badger meat was far from his favorite, but he enjoyed it thoughtfully nonetheless. Would it be such a crime if he took a little nap here...? He was in the thick of the woods, in the middle of the night... He didn't fear wild animals finding him. And humans wouldn't - not here, not now. The vampire fought with himself for a moment, before finally falling asleep once more, spread on the fluffy snow.

---

Throughout the night, Owen's body got covered all over with a thin layer of frost. Immediately, some of it fell into his eyes upon opening them - the vampire let out a quiet hiss and began rubbing his eyes, trying to get it out. The strangest part was, that was possibly the worst part about the seemingly horrible idea of falling asleep in the middle of a forest while it was snowing... The tips of his fingers and ears felt cold, but other than that, he managed to keep his body from freezing. Slowly, the vampire sat up, a little bit woozy after having just woken up from his peaceful, chilly nap.

"That's weird... I feel even warmer than when sleeping in my old house..." Owen snickered to himself. His eyes traveled down, to his healthier, filled out body. "Maybe I was supposed to hibernate throughout the winter? Louis didn't mention anything about vampires hibernating, but would explain this..." He squished his stomach with a little chuckle, before adding "It's fine... Spring is coming. Once it's warm outside again, I'll get back in shape in no time."

After getting up from his resting place, Owen headed even deeper into the forest. The snow began melting on his hair and face, making them sting a little out in the cold wind. He didn't really have anywhere to go - he just needed to go, until this feeling of restlessness would leave him alone. Some sort of breakfast would be nice... On the other hand, he literally ate a whole badger just a few hours prior. He would be fine.

The sun was hidden behind a thick layer of clouds that say. The snowfall lessened, leaving the forest in a state of almost stasis once more. Everything was so still and quiet, almost dead... But it wasn't dead, far from it. Owen could smell the scents of all the different animals, hiding out from the cold. He could feel the warmth somewhere deep in the ground. Things he was aware of earlier, given how long he's been living out there in the wild, but he never felt them so strongly. This time, it felt good to be so far out and so free... Knowing that once he decided to return, Louis would be waiting for him.

While heading down a hill, Owen's thoughts returned to his partner once more. Would he also enjoy spending his time in such a winter wonderland? Owen was aware that he still knew very little of his lover's upbringing - the mayor didn't tell him much about his life before becoming a vampire, and even things after that were murky and unspecified. But apparently he came from around here... What was Oakhurst like five hundred years ago? Was it also so nice and peaceful during early spring? Has his partner ever got lost in the bliss of quiet loneliness, just taking in the view and soothing his hunger as it came? Would he like it now? Owen had to ask him, once he'd return.

After some time, the vampire sat down at the edge of another clearing, to take a break. The months spent inside rubbed off on him, and trekking through the wilderness no longer came to him as easily as it once did... At least now, he had time to return back to his prime shape. Especially if it meant getting praised by his most beloved man in the whole world.

It took Owen a moment to notice modest spring flowers peeking out from under the snow. Immediately, an idea popped into his head. Louis seemed like the type of guy who would love flowers... Frankly, Owen didn't know much about flowers. He knew tons of things about trees, but flowers? He didn't even know Louis' favorite flower... But he would definitely appreciate a little bouquet as a gift, right?

The vampire began picking the prettiest flowers that he could find on the meadow. Some of them were wet and crumpled from the snow, but many were preserved well. Owen only recognized one species - quite big, with yellow petals, apparently called a daffodil. He struggled for a while to find something that would match. Several tiny, bell-like blue flowers that had a really nice, sweet scent. Fluffy, orange flowers with yellow insides. Another sort of tiny, white flowers, that he almost missed under the cover and snow. The lumberjack put them all together, adding something new the second he found something. It wasn't much, but he really wanted to show Louis that he cared...

"This is nice..." Owen hummed to himself, raising his little bouquet high and looking up at it against the cloudy sky. Now he just had to rush home, before the flowers would wilt and die... He grabbed his axe in one hand, the flowers in the other, then turned back towards Oakhurst.

At first, Owen just walked between the trees, mindful of every step. Eventually, as some sort of primal strength filled his bones, his walk turned into running. His energy levels were all over the place. The silhouette of the city was looming somewhere on the horizon. Soon, he would be back with his love... They would cuddle, and kiss, and eat something together...

Until suddenly, Owen's foot got caught on a fallen tree and he face-planted straight into the snow.

For a moment, the vampire just laid there in the snow, unable to move. He wasn't hurt, but the embarrassment of falling over like this wounded his ego. Maybe it's for the better that he went outside alone, so that no one would see him like this... The fledgling slowly rotated on his back, just watching the grey sky for a moment. The trees were reaching out its withered, branched hands up, as if trying to grab the clouds to cover themselves with. The tiniest of speckles of snow fell on his face and eyes. And then, as he laid there, thinking about everything that he did, saw and experienced, Owen began laughing. At first, a giggle escaped his lips, but then, it turned into a full-out laughter. 

He was supposed to be dead by now, six feet under the ground, and one more under the snow... But he wasn't. He wasn't alive, either. He was... Happy. Safe, recovered, and loved. Somehow, against all odds, he was saved... And it took someone who wasn't even human, to notice him and give him a chance. Owen's laughter rang between the trees, up to the sky. He was like a kid who fell on the snow and was now just laying there, still and focused, in full awe of the world around him. A world that finally accepted him... Well, only one part of this world did.

But that was enough for him.

---

"Hi, Lou!"

The second Owen entered the house, Louis ran up to him with excitement and relief in his eyes. He looked as if he just woke up - seemed a little sleepy and unfocused, but happy nonetheless to see his beloved man. Immediately, the lumberjack took off his dirty shoes, to not bring any dirt inside. The house looked a lot cleaner than he expected... Did Louis wash the floor while he was away? Owen rested his axe against the wall, before pulling out his bouquet and handing it to Louis.

"For you!" He smiled brightly. "Sorry they're a little crumpled, I fell over when I was going back home... You alright?" He asked, upon noticing how his lover's eyes watered.

"You came back..."

"Well, duh!" Owen giggled "What else could I do? Not return?"

Immediately, he was pulled by his partner into a tight, loving hug, and received a big kiss on the cheek. That was great... As much as Owen loved the outside, nothing beat the warmth and comfort of being with his lover.

"You've been out for a while..." Louis smiled brightly "Did you do anything fun?"

"I can tell you everything I did! But first..." Owen yawned and stretched. Maybe he really should've hibernated throughout the winter?" I think I need a nap..."

"That's fair... Come on, we can lay down together."

While Louis was busy putting the bouquet into a vase, Owen crashed on the couch. All of the emotions of the past two days finally fled his system and left him exhausted, half-asleep by the time the mayor joined him. He barely had the strength to take off his shirt. Louis joined him by his side, resting his delicate, cold hands all over Owen's body. In return, his fledgling wrapped his warm arms around his partner. As soon as he felt his cold nose sliding into Owen's hair, the vampire yawned, and both of them drifted off into a nap.

Chapter 29: Morning snuggle

Summary:

Louis and Owen share a lazy morning together.

Notes:

Sorry this chapter comes out a bit later than usual. Migraines are a bitch

Also, a quick info before we start! As some of you may know, I have my next longfic already planned (to not spoil too much, the title is Guard dog duty, and it's Owen and Abolish centric). I can tell you quite confidently it will be coming out in the first half of December, probably closer to the middle of the month. Hope you're as excited as I am :3

There was nothing better for Louis than falling asleep in the arms of his beloved man, then waking up together a few hours later, joined in hazy sleepiness. Once the elder vampire opened his eyes again, it was still dark outside. The greyish tint of the sky clearly told him it was still before the sunrise. He was actually woken up by his partner wriggling on the couch, looking for a comfortable position. He pulled his hands down Owen's cheeks and gave him a little forehead kiss, hoping to calm him down.

"You good, baby?" He asked calmly.

"I am..." Owen muttered sleepily, before cracking one eye open. "Ugh... I can't get comfy enough..."

"Oh, you poor thing..." Louis giggled and gave him one more kiss. "I thought that by now, you'd figure out all the comfiest positions for sleeping, hm?"

"I try... But it's not as easy as it might seem..." Owen finally turned on his back and sighed. "Louis...? Is it... Is it wrong that I sleep so much?"

The vampire sighed, laying back down next to him. Both their stares were glued to the ceiling, their hands found and grabbed each other.

"What do you mean by 'so much'...?"

"When I was outside, I took like... Two naps..." The fledgling snickered bitterly. "I've been a vampire for... A bit over half a year, right? And I feel like I slept through most of this time..."

"Oh, honey..." Louis turned his head, to look in Owen's direction. From his spot, he could see the profile of his face from up close. What a gorgeous man he was... Especially now that his health has improved so much. His big, gentle eyes, the little freckles peppering his cheeks and small nose, his gorgeous, white curls... The mayor would probably never get enough of this view. "I don't think there's anything wrong with that..."

"Did you also sleep so much, when you got turned...?"

"I... I don't think I did... But-" he added, before Owen could start getting insecure again "don't forget the state you were in when you got turned... I could..." Louis paused for a moment. Should he say it? Should he worry Owen like this? It was long in the past, it no longer really mattered... "I could smell death on you, that night that I turned you... If that didn't happen that night... I don't think you had much time left... If we waited longer, there's a chance you wouldn't have made it..."

The fledgling tried remaining calm, but the smallest twitch of his eyes and lips betrayed just how worried that made him. Louis could feel just how close to death he was? And if he didn't decide to do it that night...

"You mean I could've just... Died, while getting turned? Is that a thing that can happen...?"

Louis nodded. He sat up on the couch, still holding Owen's hand.

"That does happen... When someone is too sick, or too old...The vampiric venom kills them, but is unable to bring them back... I was worried it could happen to you... When you fell asleep that night, and when I was keeping an eye on you... All that I could think of was whether you'd wake up... But you did." Small, shy tears filled up Louis' eyes. "You were so strong, and so brave..."

"You saved me... In more ways than one..." Owen chuckled quietly. "And here I am, freeloading and bringing you nothing of value..."

"Oh, sweetheart..." Louis pulled Owen's hand closer and kissed it with great care and reverence. "You don't have to bring any value into this relationship... You're the most wonderful man I've ever met, and nothing will change that..."

"Even if I came out wrong...?"

Louis' smile dropped. His eyes traveled down to Owen's hand. He couldn't deny all the differences between their hands. Owen's was smaller, rougher, more calloused, even after months of recovery. Many scars marked his skin, especially around the knuckles, and were likely not going anywhere. His claws were much darker, curved - unlike that of any vampire Louis had ever met. And the warmth of his palm... The mayor slowly raised his hand to his cheek and nuzzled against it, before pressing one more kiss into Owen's palm.

"Even if you came out a little different," he hummed. "I don't know why it happened... Maybe it's because of how sick you were? Maybe it's genetics? I don't know, sweetie... But if I ever find out anything about it, I'll let you know, I promise..."

"Thanks, Lou..." Owen pulled himself up into a half-sitting position, but then just slumped over his lover's lap. "Ugh... Can't do it yet..."

Louis giggled. He began gently rubbing his partner's naked back, sometimes carefully scratching him with the very tips of his claws. He adored just how soft his skin was... Sweaty and a bit hairy, too. But that was a sign that he recovered, and he was getting better. His hand traveled down, grazing tiny, light stretch marks covering the lower parts of his back. They could've come from the weight he put on, or the extra inches he got from his growth spurt - likely both. He probably didn't even know about them... Good. That could be Louis' little secret, a spot he could worship all he wanted. Eventually, Owen flinched when he felt his lover kiss that sensitive spot on his back.

"Hey!" He giggled. "What are you doing?"

"Nothing..." Louis grinned, his tone equal parts innocent and teasing. "You're soooo gorgeous, honey... I can't get enough of you..."

"You really think so?" Owen smirked. He turned on his back, staring up at Louis' face in the darkness. "Can I ask you something dumb...?"

"Sure... What is it...?"

"Do vampires... Hibernate?"

Louis scrunched his nose, fighting with the urge to burst out into laughter.

"No, no, I don't think that vampires hibernate... Why...?"

"I thought that this might be why I sleep so much... And why I eat so much more than you... Maybe I should've hibernated over the winter...?"

"I'm pretty sure you're not a bear, that would need to hibernate..." Louis snickered. A moment later, he corrected himself "I mean, you do look like a bear a little... A big, scruffy bear..."

"Then why am I like this...?"

Louis sighed. He could tell that his partner was really worried by how different he was... If only he could understand that there was nothing wrong with that, and that he was just as much of a vampire, as Louis or Morcant were... The mayor leaned down, his face hovering just over Owen's. His hair gently tickled the fledgling's nose and cheeks.

"Sweetheart..." He sighed. "Just because you look different, or act different, doesn't mean there's something wrong with you... You may have just turned out a little differently. But you're still a valid vampire, I can promise you that much."

"But you don't know why I turned out like that... Or if it means something..." Owen pouted, seeing his lover shake his head. "Maybe there's someone who I could talk to...?"

"Well..." Louis raised his head once more. "I could ask Morcant the next time he comes around, whether he knows something..."

"No, no, I meant... Someone else, someone who has... More experience with vampires..." Owen immediately regretted his idea, once he felt just how stiff Louis had become once the realization hit him.

"No, Owen."

"Lou, please, I- I just want to know what's wrong with me!" The fledgling sat up. "And your sire is very old, right? What if he met someone like me? What if he can help?"

"Even if he could help," Louis averted eye contact and crossed his arms "he won't. Scott Goldsmith is a horrible, rotten man, Owen."

"Well, he... He seemed to like me, when we met..."

"You've known him for less than a day!" The mayor suddenly blew up at his fledgling. "I've known him for a hundred years! I've carried his venom in me every day, for the past five centuries! Whatever this man will ever tell you are either lies, or some sort of manipulation to get something out of you! If you ever talk to him again, I'll-" Suddenly, Louis paused, once he ran out of breath. He looked at Owen again. He looked... Scared. It's been a while since his partner yelled at him like that... And this time, it wasn't even due to him doing something wrong. He just suggested an idea... An idea on how to learn more about himself, and about his strange predicament. He took a deep breath, pulling his hands through his hair to try and calm down. "Sorry... Forget I said anything."

"No, no, it's fine..." Owen sighed. "I'm sorry, I... I should've known to not mention him... I just- I really want to know what's wrong with me!" He added quickly. Even though his idea infuriated Louis, he still had hopes that maybe it would work... But guessing by Louis' face, the topic was closed for him.

"I don't know, Owen... I wouldn't trust that man, knowing what I know."

At last, Louis got up from the couch. The first rays of sunshine began peeking through the thick clouds. He had to get up eventually, and head to work... He couldn't take too days off, could he? Seeing that, Owen also decided to finally crawl out of his safe spot. The second he did get up, his cat woke up and got up from the table, then approached him with a series of high meows.

"Okay, okay, I'm gonna get you some food, you nasty little thing..." Owen giggled, then picked up the cat gently. She immediately turned around and grabbed his arm with her claws, before jumping up on his shoulder. "Ouch! Careful..."

"You look like a witch with her trusty cat..." Louis pointed out with a shy, gentle smile. He was still worried that Owen wouldn't talk to him over his outburst... But instead, the fledgling giggled fondly.

"I kinda do, don't I? Do you think I'd be a good witch?" He smirked.

"Oh, you'd be an amazing witch..." The mayor approached him, before approaching his lover and leaving a soft kiss on his cheek. "I should probably take a bath... If you need me, I'll be in the bathroom."

"You sure you don't want me to join you?" Owen asked, to which his partner booped his nose.

"I'm sure, sweetie. Besides, you need to take care of someone else first."

"Yeah, I guess you're right..."

Once Louis got into the bathroom, Owen headed into the pantry. The cat still sat on his shoulder, easily keeping its balance. The fledgling pulled out a bottle of blood for himself and Louis, and a few chunks of meat for his beloved pet. Once he cut it into small pieces and placed them on a plate, the cat jumped down from her comfy spot and began eating greedily. At the same time, Owen sat down on the kitchen counter, playing with the blood bottle. He should probably wait for Louis, and eat breakfast together... But his hunger was gnawing at him, and he wasn't going to keep it at bay a lot longer. There was something about the cold, forest air that helped him not feel so hungry all the time... Or was it just the case of him being outside, having things to do, places to be? As much as he loved this house, and who awaited him here every day, he wasn't used to spending so much time in one place... He needed his freedom. Owen's eyes traveled down to his kitten, who was almost done with her food. They didn't mind letting her outside whenever she wanted, and so far, she always returned... He could be like that too, right? Yet another way in which he turned out more cat-like than human...

The fledgling leaned against the wall and glanced outside the window. It faced north - the direction where Scott's castle apparently was. The idea of asking him about his strange condition allured Owen... Maybe the ancient vampire would be willing to help? Even if not for free, then for a price that wasn't too steep? But then again, if Louis learned that his fledgling talked to him, he would get upset... Owen needed to seriously ask himself - what was more important to him? Finding out the truth about himself, or pleasing his boyfriend?

Once he was almost done making up his mind, Louis left the bathroom. He looked so nice and cosy in a warm, thick bathrobe... Owen's stare was immediately glued to him, his fangs popping open with excitement.

"Wow, that was quick..." He hummed. "It takes me at least three times as long..."

"Don't you just soak most of the time?" Louis asked with a fond smile. 

"Well, yeah... But it's not just that! You know how long it takes to wash my hair?" Owen snickered, "You gotta rinse them really good, and then..." His voice trailed off, the closer Louis got to him. The mayor smirked, before taking the bottle from his partner's hands and opening it. "Wow, you're... Woah..."

"Thank you, dearest..." The elder vampire smirked. He took a big sip of the blood, tiniest bits of crimson marking his lips. He then leaned over his partner. "You're also very, very pretty... A real snack, if I do say so myself..."

"I just, uh... I..." Owen's face went red. He was usually better at flirting, but that came so unexpectedly, it caught him completely off-guard. "Thank you...?"

"Be good while I'm out, okay?" Louis asked. "I may go visit a friend this evening, so if I don't return at the usual time, this is why..."

"Your doctor friend...?" Owen asked hesitantly, and the mayor nodded in response. "Oh... Great..."

"I promise you, sweetie... He's not a bad man. I can't wait for you to meet him..."

"Well, I can wait," the fledgling grumbled in response.

Louis giggled, before giving his lover one more kiss. Their foreheads touched for a moment, and then he headed back into their bedroom, to get dressed. Owen watched after him the whole time, taking in the effortless beauty and grace of his partner. He was the pinnacle of elegance and sweetness... Like an angel, who graced Owen with his very presence. Compared to him, Owen felt like a dirty, homeless dog, that he just decided to take in out of the goodness of his heart... The lumberjack smiled, before taking the other bottle of blood and taking a sip. If Louis was going to be back late... Maybe there was a way that Owen could make use of all this extra time.

Chapter 30: Mortal counseling

Summary:

Louis visits his human friend, to get some advice on what he should do next.

Notes:

Had a bad day and projected a little too hard on Louis. Oops :3

Louis snuck out of his office a bit early that afternoon. He still had some documents that needed his signature, but he needed to take a step back to spend some time with a friend and get a chance to breathe. The sun was particularly strong when he went outside - it was just before sunset. The vampire shivered, but eventually decided to just power through it. The long days of late spring and summer would eventually come, and he would have to start working from home again... He wasn't particularly looking forward to that. Home was somewhere where it was supposed to be only him and Owen... Even if now, he was heading in the very opposite direction.

It's not that Louis didn't want to see Owen. He loved that man dearly, and going back home to see his cute face was always a highlight of his day. Still, with all of the feeling stirring in his chest in the past few weeks, he needed to go somewhere else, do something else, put all his attention on someone else than his beloved man. He could only hope that he wouldn't disturb the one man he aimed to talk to...

"Hello? Legs?" He asked upon knocking on the door to the doctor's office.

"A minute, Louis..." The low, reassuring tone of his friend echoed from inside. Louis took a step back, still hiding under the roof of the building. This sunlight was beginning to drive him crazy... He could only hope that once he leaves this place, the sun will be long gone. He leaned against the wall and tilted his head back, struggling to ignore the sounds of many footsteps of people passing by him.

Eventually, the door to the doctor's office opened, and his friend walked out. Louis couldn't help but put on a soft, relieved smile. As an immortal vampire, it was hard for him to make friends with humans - but this one was special. If there was someone who could help Louis with all of his insecurities, it was him.

"Hi, Legs..." The mayor sighed. "You have a while...?"

"I just finished working... Although it'd be nice if you announced yourself next time." Legundo led his friend upstairs, towards the small apartment he occupied.

"Sorry, I just... Needed somewhere to go, and someone to talk to... And I don't really have anyone like that, besides you."

The doctor just nodded. He only continued talking once both of them stepped inside, which allowed him to lock the door. Now, no one would eavesdrop, no one would know.

"What about Morcant? And Owen?"

"I don't think I'm on this level with Morcant yet..." Louis chuckled, taking off his coat and hanging it in the hall. "And as for Owen, I... It's not something I want to discuss with him."

"You want some tea?"

"Yes, please..."

After taking off his own coat, Legundo headed straight to the kitchen. He began preparing two cups of tea, for himself and his friend, and only then turned to his bedroom to get changed. His day of work was pretty tame compared to what he usually had to deal with, but that didn't mean that he wasn't exhausted. Slowly but surely, his age was beginning to catch up with him. But when it came to Louis, he was willing to push all of that aside to aid him in his struggles.

"Did something happen between you two?" He asked while still in his room, knowing that Louis was waiting for him. Indeed, the vampire was standing in front of the door, but decided against peeking.

"Not really, I just... Legs, am I too... Sensitive...?"

The doctor weighed his words for a moment. Should he be honest, or should he be supportive...? Although, knowing Louis, and knowing the version of himself he presented to the mayor, he probably expected truth from the doctor.

"Maybe not too sensitive, but..." Legundo pushed the door open, once he changed from his work robes to a more comfy shirt. "You certainly are a sensitive man. Which isn't a bad thing. Why are you asking...?"

"I just..." Louis slumped against Legs, hiding his face in the doctor's shoulder. "I feel like I'm doing everything wrong... I'm such a failure, Legs..." He whimpered.

"Oh, Louis..." The doctor pulled his friend into a gentle, careful hug. Even though he was much stronger than a normal human, Legundo still feared hurting him, due to just how slender he was. They were roughly the same height, but Louis was about half his size. Sometimes, he felt so much younger than Legundo, despite being ten times his age. "Come on, let's sit down and talk about it... I can assure you, you're not a failure. You're a good man, a great mayor, and an amazing friend."

"You sure...?"

"I am. I met many bad people in my life, Louis. You're not one of them."

Finally, Louis let Legundo lead him into the kitchen. He slumped on the chair, and accepted a cup of hot tea with a grateful smile. He immediately attempted to take a sip, but pulled back once his lips touched the hot water.

"Ouch..."

"Careful... It's not even done brewing yet," Legundo chuckled and sat next to him. "You gotta give it some time, you know?"

"Yes, yes..." The vampire sighed. He looked down at his cup, tracing the outline of the top with his finger. "Ugh, where do I start... Wait, I didn't even ask you how your day was! I'm sorry, Legs, I-"

"It's fine, Louis, really..." The doctor smiled. "It's been... Fine. Long, but I'm glad it's over. I certainly need to lay down once I have a while..." He sighed, stretching his arms and taking a more relaxed position. He then pointed to his face. "You won't mind if I...?"

"No, no, go ahead."

"Thank you... You can keep going."

Despite that, Louis still waited for a moment, until Legundo was done removing his artificial eye. The doctor never shared the story of how he left it... Which didn't mean Louis didn't know it. Truth be told, he knew quite a lot about Legs' past, which allowed him to never pressure his friend into revealing many details. Especially ones he could find uncomfortable, or too dark for Louis. Oh, if only he knew about the skeletons that the vampire hid in his own closet...

"I, uh... I feel like I'm doing something wrong with Owen," Louis finally revealed. "I expected that once I turn him, nothing will ever go wrong... But that's not what happened... I'm a bit old to believe that, huh...?"

"There's nothing wrong with hoping for things to go the right way, but... Yeah, probably." The doctor agreed, before taking a sip of his own tea. "Is he giving you trouble...?"

"He doesn't want to, I'm sure, but..." Louis took a deep breath, then looked at Legundo a bit more sternly. "You cannot tell anyone what I will tell you now."

The doctor almost laughed at that.

"That's basically how we've been going for years now, Louis. I hope I earned your trust by now..."

"I know, but this is... This is different. For a while, I couldn't let Owen go outside, because he... Killed someone." The elder vampire lowered his voice a little, as if still afraid that someone could hear him.

Legundo squinted. He was definitely less phased by this confession than a normal man would be. Well, considering his own experiences, that was far from the worst things he ever bore witness to.

"What happened...?"

"He told me that he was ambushed by the pastor in the forest... He sprayed him with holy water, and Owen had to defend himself..." Louis clenched his hands into fists. "I wish I could've been there to do something, to deescalate this, but... I wasn't. I failed."

"You cannot expect yourself to hover over him all the time... You're both grown men, Louis," Legundo pointed out. "Especially in your predicament... Though, it explains why I haven't seen the pastor in a few weeks."

Louis whimpered and curled on his chair, as if aiming to appear even smaller than he actually was.

"We figured it out now, I think we're safe, but... Still, the thought that he got hurt, because I wasn't around... And not only that, I... There's something more. Or someone, I guess..."

"Louis...?"

"My sire, Legs, I-I... I don't know how, but he... He returned... One day, he just came into my house, and acted as if he owned the place..." The vampire lifted his cup, his hands shaking. "And he spoke to Owen, he was... Well, he wasn't nice to him, but..."

Legundo put his cup down, then turned to his friend. He was literally trembling at the memory of his sire... The doctor never had a chance to meet this man, for obvious reasons. And whenever they conversed and that topic came up, Louis skipped most details. All that he told his friend was that he was turned by an old, powerful, and very evil vampire that lived not too far from Oakhurst. But the news that he returned to this land... That sounded worrying. Especially if someone so old and strong like Louis feared him so much.

"He sounded... He sounded like he did, whenever he pretended to not hate me." Louis wrapped his arms around himself. "I know this man is bad news, Legs, he's going to put some bad ideas into Owen's head, if they ever meet again... And if they do- Oh no, no no no... What if Owen did go out to look for him? Oh gosh, I have to go find him!"

The vampire immediately dashed out of the chair and towards the door. Legundo barely managed to catch him, grabbing him by the wrist and pulling him back. Sure, he was far from a weak man, but the raw strength of a vampire easily matched his own. He struggled to keep Louis in place - and he needed to do that, before the vampire did something stupid again.

"Louis! Calm down, please..." Legundo tugged on his wrist, hoping the mayor would look back at him. "Even if Owen did go outside, looking for him in the forest will take ages... Remember what I told you? He's a grown man, he knows how to take care of himself..."

"But I... I..." Louis eventually stopped fighting back. Legundo's warm fingers squeezed his wrist, before inviting him back to the table. "I'm sorry, Legs, I just... I'm so worried... And on top of all of that, Owen is insecure about what kind of vampire he's turning out to be...?" His eyes began filling with tears. Tears of sadness and fear. Above those two feelings, though, Louis was feeling completely hopeless and powerless.

"What do you mean...?"

"He's... He's developing differently to any other vampire I've ever seen. He looks different, acts different, and... He thinks it's a bad thing. That there's something wrong with him. But there's nothing wrong with him... And he's not listening to me!"

Finally, the mayor couldn't take it anymore. He slumped his head against the table, the tears freely flowing down his cheeks. He sniffled and trembled, too overcome by his emotions to properly voice his worries and insecurities. Legundo began gently stroking his hair, hoping that it would soothe his friend's pain at least to some extent. Seeing Louis like this worried him greatly... He got the privilege of being one of not many people to ever see Louis like this. He was a wonderful man, but his feelings seemed too big for him sometimes... Louis was a good man, a very good man. Being his friend was one of Legundo's greatest honors. He wished he could do something more, rather than just reassuring him. But sometimes, that was all he could do.

"Louis..." He whispered softly. "You love this man, right...?"

"I do... The most in the world... It's been two hundred years since I felt like this..." The vampire put his chin on the table and chuckled bitterly. "I don't want it to go wrong again... This town wouldn't be able to take it..."

"You're trying, and that's what matters... He certainly knows that... But you can't just spare him all these experiences, you know...? If that's anything, you're definitely a better sire to him than your sire was to you..."

"The bar is basically on the floor, so it's not an achievement..." Louis chuckled bitterly. He smiled when the doctor wrapped a lock of his white hair on his finger. His hands were so nice... A bit similar to Owen's. Also warm, calloused and scarred - just a bit bigger.

"But you're still trying. You're doing whatever it takes to make him happy, and comfortable... But you can't do everything. And I don't think he expects that from you..."

"So you think I should just... Let him do what he wants...? I mean, yeah, that sounds logical, but- But Scott will definitely try to do something to him! I have to... To..." Louis sighed, all of the energy fleeting from him like from a deflated balloon. "I... I think I finally get why most of my fledglings hated me."

"It's not a bad thing that you care... You're a good man, Louis." Legundo moved his hand to his friend's cheek, caressing it gently. "You need to give yourself a chance... And him, too."

Louis took a deep breath, almost to the point where his lungs started hurting. Maybe he was a bit too overbearing... He wished he could save Owen all of the pain and suffering. That's the least he deserved, after all he's been through... But life didn't work like that, did it? He could only do so much. He couldn't always be there to save Owen. Not to mention, if he did, he would probably also quickly grow to despise him... But he knew for sure that he would always be there, in the background, ready to lend his lover a hand. Finally, he pulled himself back into a sitting position, and began fixing his hair.

"I... Thanks, Legs."

"It's nothing... Just trust yourself. And trust him. You will be both better for it."

Louis snickered quietly.

"How does it work that you know so much more than me? I have five hundred years of experience, and yet... I still feel like a little kid sometimes, compared to you..."

"I'm just trying to help..." The doctor smiled. "That's all I can do, at this point. Even if I don't have much time left, I want to help as much as I can..."

"Hey, don't say that! You're not that old yet... Right...?"

"I'm not, I think... But my years are catching up with me, I'm afraid..." Legundo chuckled. "Even with all your help..."

"Oh, speaking of! You need some more of it, since I'm already here? It still helps, right? If it helps, I'd gladly give you more- I could even turn you, if you finally feel up to it!" Louis immediately proposed, but the doctor cooled down his enthusiasm with a hand gesture.

"I think I'm good for now, but... Thank you. You're... Helping me a lot. Even if I don't deserve it..."

"You do, Legs. You're a good man, you've saved so many people..."

"I'm not a good person," Legundo's voice trembled for a second, before it became calm again. "I just want to fix as much damage as I can, before I have to depart. And then, that's it. I don't deserve eternity. I barely deserve... This."

"I don't agree," Louis argued. "You did so much good for the people of Oakhurst, and not only here, I bet..."

"But that doesn't fix the... Other things."

Louis just nodded. Legundo thought he didn't know what he was talking about... He did, he very much did. He's seen it with his own eyes. But he'd rather not reveal that to his friend. Who knows how he'd react... That was one of the things that was better left unmentioned.

"I guess there are things we can't just... Fix some things, can we...?"

Legundo just shook his head.

After a few more minutes of comfortable silence, and with their cups of tea halfway full, their chat returned to something more pleasant. Once his insecurities about his and Owen's relationship were quelled for now, Louis returned to talking about his boyfriend as if he was the eighth wonder of the world. Truth be told, the doctor found it quite cute how his eyes lit up every time he mentioned anything about the lumberjack. It only fueled Legundo's intrigue about what that man actually was like.

"I can't wait to finally meet him one day..." He admitted.

"Me too! It would have to be in a... Non-medical environment, though," Louis added quickly. "He is not very partial to doctors... The first time I mentioned you and that you were a doctor, he hissed at me..."

"Okay, okay, I get it, no mentioning my work around him..." Legs chuckled, before finishing his tea. "Only if I get his trust... Though, you mentioned that he was sick before you turned him... And vampirism cured him...?"

"Yes, it did... He recovered so nicely... He's so warm and cuddly, and healthy..." Louis sighed fondly, thinking back to his partner. A moment later, he raised his head and made eye contact with Legundo, seeing that he drifted off into his own head again. "What you told me about the properties of the venom... I think you're right. But... Do you think you can figure it out on your own...?"

"I might not have enough time left in my life to finish my research, but... In case I don't..." Legundo put his hand on Louis', his expression getting more serious. "I'll need you to take my notes, and find someone who can continue my work after I'm gone. Can you promise me that...?"

The mayor rested his other hand on Legundo's warm palm.

"I promise. I can give them to Morcant, maybe the organization will know how to continue your work..." All of a sudden, he snickered. "I felt so weird when he called you Francis... I almost forgot that it's actually your name... Should I call you that more often?"

"How you're calling me now is just fine," Legs smiled, also softening a little at the confession. "Thanks, Louis, you're... You really are a good man. I'm lucky to have you... And so is Owen."

"I'm lucky to have you two..." Louis sighed, putting his forehead against the doctor's palm. "Sometimes, it's just you two that keep me going..."

"It's an honor, truly." The doctor gently took his friend's hand and lifted it. His lips gently grazed his knuckles, making Louis blush a lot more than one would think possible for an undead. He really was the luckiest of vampires, wasn't he...?

---

Once Louis returned home, Owen was just in the bedroom, changing into something more comfortable and homely. The elder vampire snuck up to his fledgling, and once he took off his shirt and tossed it away, he pulled him into a tight hug.

"Whoa! Lou!" Owen immediately burst out into laughter. "Oh gosh, you scared me so bad..."

"Oh, I'm so sorry, sweetie... You okay?" He asked, hiding his nose in the lumberjack's neck and sniffing it. He smelled like the forest... But other than that, there wasn't anything unusual that rubbed off on him.

"I am... Enjoyed your afternoon tea with your friend?" He asked teasingly.

"I did, I certainly did... But I still missed you, you know...?"

"I know... And I don't blame you." Owen giggled, leaning back into a hug. Once he felt his partner's breath on him, he added "Why are you sniffing me?"

"Someone's stinky again..."

"Aw, man... I thought you liked it!"

"I do, but there are some limits to that..." Louis giggled, before picking up his partner. It still came quite easy to him, despite how much bigger his lover has gotten. "Come on. You need a bath, you stinky cat."

"But my nap..." The fledgling whimpered.

"You and your naps... You can go to sleep once you're clean again. Deal?"

"Deal..." Owen sighed, feigning reluctance. He just leaned more into his partner's embrace, then let himself be dragged away into the bathroom.

Chapter 31: Just how fast the night changes

Summary:

Owen and Louis do something they haven't done in a while. While at it, they also reminisce about the past.

Notes:

Sorry this one is coming a bit later than usual. Things are not going well rn.

Owen would never complain, when it came to letting his partner bathe him. It was one of the most intimate acts shared between them, and despite him being at the receiving end, he could tell Louis enjoyed it just as much. He took off his partner's clothes with great care and reverence, his touch lingering all over Owen's body. He paused for a second when he got to the fresh bandages covering his arms and wrists. Clearly, he hesitated whether he should take them off, or allow them to get wet in the bath.

"It's fine, you can... You can take these off. They don't hurt as much anymore," the fledgling muttered. Louis accepted the answer with a nod, then began carefully unwrapping the bandages. 

"You're gorgeous, sweetheart..." The mayor whispered. "Remember when I first bathed you...? You were so tiny and scared..."

"I remember thinking that you wanted me to go wash myself in the river..." The lumberjack snickered, pulling his hands closer to himself. "When I didn't even know that we had a bathroom..."

"You were such a cute, rugged rat..." Louis chuckled, before picking his partner up and placing him in the hot water. Owen shivered, then slumped deeper into the bathtub, letting the warmth course through his bones and muscle. "And now? Look at how much you've grown, honey..."

"Yeah, I... I can't imagine ever going back to how I used to..." Owen leaned against the side of the bathtub. Gentle purring escaped his lungs when Louis untied his hair, then began carefully soaking it in water.

"And that is not a bad thing, sweetie... Now, you will never get sick again, you will never have to struggle again..."

"But that doesn't mean that I can just... Get lazy and spoiled, can I?" Owen snickered. Not hearing Louis' reaction, he looked up at him. The mayor was looking at him with his eyes wide in excitement, as if this was exactly what he had in mind. "No, no, I can't, Louis, I... It wouldn't feel right. It wouldn't feel like... Like me. Although, to be honest..." He snickered, his claws suddenly tensing. "With how many things changed lately, I... I'm not even sure what that 'me' even is, at this point..."

Louis tilted his head to the side, his stare softening. 

"What do you mean...?"

"Well, I... A year ago, I wouldn't even dream of... All of this..." Owen made a vague gesture at his surroundings. "I expected to be dead by this time in a year, and... I'm not. I mean, I am, but I'm also... Not...? Which is weird, but I... I just wonder, whether I'm the same person as I was back then..."

"Oh, sweetie..." Louis put his wet, cold hand on Owen's cheek, rubbing it gently. The fledgling shivered at first, but then leaned closer, basking in the comfort. "Just because you're in better situation now, doesn't mean you're a different person...You just got better, you survived... And that's incredible..."

"I probably shouldn't doubt all of this so much, should I...?" He sighed heavily. "I'm sorry..."

"It's okay, dearest. I get that you may be a bit lost now..." Louis picked up his hand, gently rubbing his knuckles with his thumb. "But it will all work out. You're not alone. You have me, and other people you can trust..."

"Like your doctor friend?" Owen scoffed. "Or your bratty fledgling?"

"Hey!" Louis furrowed his brows for a moment, before adding "You can trust both of them too. Morcant is... A bit rough, sure, but he's a good, and honest man. And Legs... You haven't even met him yet!"

"That's his name?" The fledgling couldn't hold back a chuckle.

"His name is Francis, but... Most people call him by his last name, Legundo. Or just Legs."

"That's dumb..." Owen chuckled, but then Louis flickered him in the nose. "Ouch!"

"Please don't talk bad about my friend, dear." Louis' tone was calm and kind, but a lot sharper and more stern. Owen immediately tensed a little, but calmed down again once the mayor began caressing his hair again. "I could start calling you by your last name too, if you think it's so dumb... Or by your second name..."

"You don't know my second name," The fledgling smirked cockily.

"Are you sure?" The mayor grinned, and leaned a little closer, his lips right by his lover's ear. "Owen... John... Miller...?"

Owen's ear flickered in surprise.

"How did you know...?"

"As the mayor, I have access to many documents of my people... Including birth certificates..." Louis giggled, pulling his claws against his partner's neck. "I know a lot more about you than you might expect..."

"Oh gosh," Owen whimpered, a bit overwhelmed by the confession. "That's, uh... Well..."

Louis just laughed it off, before going back to washing Owen's hair. The fledgling just slumped against the bathtub, soaking in the comfort and care. The amount of knowledge his partner possessed of him was a little... Uncomfortable to him. But it wasn't anything to worry about, right? The mayor loved him, and that's all that mattered.

"Do you think I should clip my claws?" Owen suddenly asked, tapping the tips of his claws against the edge of the bathtub, producing a quiet, clicking sound. 

"Do they cause you problems, sweetie?"

"No, I... I don't think so. It's just... They're a lot longer than yours... What if someone notices?"

"Your claws are just fine, honey... You're all fine." Louis leaned closer and left a little peck on his nose. "More than fine, you're such a cutie..."

Owen smiled, closing his eyes and relaxing as Louis continued to bathe him. His purring continued as his lover washed his hair, gently and carefully taking care of his delicate curls. This whole time, Louis can't get enough of his unique hair texture. Somehow, despite how much his illness has ravaged his body, his hair was always pretty and curly. The mayor couldn't resist putting his nose in his partner's hair and sniffling it.

"I know you love my hair, Lou..." The fledgling giggled. "Is there a single part of me you don't love?"

"Hmmm... Well..." The mayor hummed, tapping on his cheek as he pondered. Owen got a little intimidated by how he didn't immediately deny. "I don't like... How you're sometimes very self-conscious about yourself... It's not very hot, is it...?"

"Oh lord..." Owen chuckled and looked up at his partner. "If you went through as much as I did, you would feel like that, too..."

"I guess it's fair..." Louis sighed. He didn't want to fight Owen on this... He already knew it wouldn't go anywhere. His beloved was just as stubborn as he was sweet and lovely. "Well, at least now you have an eternity to start liking yourself. It's not that hard, when you're such a sweet person..."

"Oh, right... That means staying like this forever..." Owen snickered. Once Louis finished washing his hair and moved down to his back, the fledgling's whole body arched back at the comfortable touch. "Mmmm... That's good... Keep going..."

"You silly little cat..." Louis giggled, carefully scratching along his partner's spine. "You like it, hm?"

"I do... It's nice..." Owen sighed heavily, falling back into the hot water again. "Back when I was sick... I would get the worst back pain... It was driving me nuts..."

"You poor thing..." The mayor sighed, continuing his gentle scritches. "Are you still getting this back pain?"

"Sometimes... But this time, it might be for other reasons..." The lumberjack admitted with a bit of embarrassment. "Sitting at home for months didn't do much good for my back..."

"Mmmm... That's why you wanted to go outside so bad, hm? You needed to move around a little, huh?"

"Yeah..." Owen muttered. "Your couch is very comfy, but it can only handle me for so long..."

"I know, I know..." 

Louis continued to clean his partner's body, watching out for all of his old scars and more fresh wounds. His skin was like an old, parched map, covered in stains and blemishes. And it told such a fascinating story of survival and recovery... A story that Louis was proud to be a part of. His fingertips lingered over one of the scars that wrapped around one of Owen's sides. Even with eternity by his side, they would never fully fade... But at least, the other things were gone. The pain, the inflammation, the ostracism... All of this was in the past and hopefully, Owen will be able to forget all of it one day. After all, would a centuries old vampire still think about the pain he felt in the first twenty five years of his life? Well, Louis did still think about all the pain he went through in his young years... He sighed, before pulling Owen closer again and leaving a little kiss on his lips.

"You're beautiful..." He whispered. "And so strong... You're a real survivor, dearest..."

"I just did what I had to..." Owen sighed. "Sometimes, I... I thought of just ending it all... Ending the pain... But I was never strong enough to do it."

"No, no no no, sweetie... You were strong because you didn't do it. You made it... You were so, so strong, and you made it through to the other side... And now you're here. Safe and sound, and loved."

"Maybe I did die...? And you're an angel that went to hell to take care of me?" The fledgling giggled.

"You wouldn't go to hell, sweetie..."

"I would argue," Owen shrugged. He then leaned back a bit, hiding under the water as much as he could. A moment later, only the top of his head and his knees were poking out from under the surface.

"Where are you going, hm?" Louis smiled, gently scratching his partner's scalp. "Stay right here, where I can look at your sweet face..."

"Louis...? Do you... Do you love me?" Owen asked, after poking his head out of the water again.

"Of course, sweetheart... And I don't want you to ever forget that."

Once the fledgling was clean again, Louis pulled him out of the water and began gently drying him with soft, warm towels. He was certainly enjoying getting to touch his partner all over, taking in just in how much of a better state he was. The first time they did this together, Owen was so tiny and delicate... Now, he seemed a lot stronger, a lot more alive. He was almost nothing like the quiet, sickly lumberjack that entered Louis' office months ago... But he was the same, lovely, kind man that the mayor would do anything for. The outside might've changed. Maybe something on the inside changed as well. But at his very core, he was still the same man that Louis fell for from their first moments together.

"How are you feeling?" The elder vampire asked thoughtfully, looking down at his lover as he started drying his hair. "Not too cold?"

"I'm never cold now, Lou..." Owen snickered. "Thank you for your help, I... I appreciate it. Really."

"I know you do, sweetheart..." Louis gave him a little peck on the cheek, before returning to his task. "You wanna take a nap once we're done?"

"Sounds tempting, but... I've been sleeping so much lately, it might be getting unhealthy at this point..."

"But you love your naps, don'tcha?" 

"I do..." Owen sighed and slumped against his partner's chest, taking in his sweet scent. "We can cuddle a little, but then I... I think I want to go for a walk. Alone. If you don't mind..."

"I don't, not at all..." Louis quickly responded, despite the tight feeling that wrapped around his throat. Of course he didn't mind... If he did, that would make him a horrible person, wouldn't it? "Just stay safe, okay? And don't eat any more people..."

"I'll try to..." Owen snickered, his cheeks covering with shy blush at the reminder. "I still can't believe all of it worked out... And no one even knows it happened..."

"Right, yeah, n-no one knows..." Louis chuckled nervously, suddenly avoiding eye contact. Owen squinted.

"Louis...? Don't tell me..."

"I... May have told Legs... About what happened..."

"You WHAT?!" Owen immediately tensed, pulling back from his partner's loving embrace. "You told your doctor friend about- Louis!"

"Owen, it's fine! He knows how to keep a secret... He keeps a lot of those," the mayor added a bit quietly. "He's not a saint... But he's a good person."

The fledgling still seemed a bit nervous about the confession that his crime was now a secret not between two, but three. That meant he had to meet the doctor now, to make sure he wouldn't say a thing, would he? Was that Louis' way of convincing him to meet the man he was so afraid of meeting...?

Finally, Owen got up and began dressing up again. He probably needed to change into a clean shirt, as this one has been his go-to for the past few days - but right now, he just needed to go outside and clear his head. His lover also picked up on his sudden shift in mood, and took a step back to give him space.

"Owen? I... I'm sorry... I trust this man, but... But I know you don't, so I shouldn't have-"

"It's fine, Lou." Owen sighed. "Can we cuddle after I'm back home...?"

"Of course, dearest. I'll be waiting."

Owen headed towards the bathroom door, but something made him stop as he grabbed the doorknob. His curved claws scraped against the metal, producing a quiet, unpleasant sound. For a second, his hand tingled; it didn't exactly feel like his. A shiver went through his whole body, as if to confirm that it was still, in fact, his own. The fledgling took a deep breath, before finally leaving the bathroom and heading towards the door, to get dressed. Before Louis could ask him anything more, he already grabbed his axe and headed out, outside of Oakhurst gates.

Chapter 32: Guidance from the grave

Summary:

Owen finally gets some answers about his condition.

Notes:

This thing is already at 13k hits? Which is awesome but also how?????

Truth be told, Owen had other goals when going outside than just to chop some wood. Some of them were easier for him to internalize - after all, there was nothing wrong with walking around the forest to clear his head and work on his health, right? Not to mention, he could make a penny from selling all of the lumber he cut, while saving some for his future carving projects. And at least he wasn't just spending all day sitting at home, doing nothing productive.

There were some reasons, for example, that were harder for him to explain. Whenever he headed into the forest, he turned north, towards a grim looking castle on a lone island. The closer he approached, the more unnerved he felt. As if someone was watching him. Owen wasn't exactly sure which was stronger - his fear of disappointing Louis, or his morbid curiosity. He wanted to at least try talking to Scott, to figure out whether he could help him... But every time he decided to cross the bridge, his legs seemed to stop listening to him. He would never force himself to go there, would he? The answers he was so desperately seeking, but he couldn't grasp out of his need to satisfy his partner... Apparently that was more important to him, than knowing the truth about his condition. Was he in the wrong, though...?

That afternoon, after failing his trip yet another time, Owen resorted to his usual work of chopping down a few trees. After warming up, he tossed his coat aside, only leaving him in a thin shirt. Cold wind swung around him, scratching the back of his throat as he hummed some old song. The axe in his hands was a familiar, comforting weight, the sharp tip of the blade easily piercing through the dry wood. Once the tree fell down, Owen put his weapon aside and took a deep, relieved breath.

"I think I have one more in me..." he hummed, flexing his arms in search of visible muscle mass. A small smirk appeared on his face. He was far from a muscular person, but it was still a vast improvement over his physique as a human...

But then, he felt something. Something watching him, but in a much more... Personal way than before.

Immediately, Owen grabbed his axe and turned around. Something was lurking between the trees, a pair of scarlet eyes staring right at him. The lumberjack tensed, his body freezing and making him unable to attack. Slowly, the figure cloaked in shadow stepped forward, his soft voice carrying up in the air.

"Look at you, little morsel... All alone in the woods, on my turf... But I feel like you didn't end up here by accident..."

Owen shivered at how the vampire spoke to him. He was clearly toying with the fledgling... But he didn't seem openly antagonistic. Maybe Owen could still turn it around. Once he felt like his body listened to him again, he bowed to his elder.

"I... I was looking for you, sire."

Scott let out an amused giggle. It's been an age since someone addressed him with such respect... He could get used to that. Maybe Louis did not teach him all that wrong...?

"Oh really? Why is that?"

"I... I need your help, sire."

"Oh! Do you?"

The vampire's voice rang like a glass bell, light and excited. Owen needed something from him... And he could provide it, of course. For the right price. The attention of someone like him was expensive... It was worth more than gold.

"Yes, I... I need your guidance. You're so much older than me, you have so much more experience, and... I think you could help me figure out what's wrong with me."

"Wrong with you?"

Scott finally emerged from between the trees, then began circling the fledgling, carefully examining him. His footsteps were completely silent. If Owen could hear him earlier, it was only because the elder vampire wanted to be heard. He wanted Owen's attention... Could he feel his conviction, his insecurity, his desperation? Or was it just really really obvious?

"Well, let's see... Your fashion sense could use some work. Just because you're a commoner, doesn't mean you have to dress up like this, have some style..." The vampire snickered, pulling on the back of Owen's shirt. "And your hair... It could do with straightening. Would stop being so unruly and wild... Oh, and your freckles... I can't remember when they were in fashion last time... I could lend you some of my setting powder, if you don't mind the lead."

Scott was clearly having fun teasing the young fledgling. And he looked so adorable when he was embarassed... This served as payment in itself. After all, Scott loved being in control of every situation he was in.

"I don't think it would help with the scars, but there are ways to hide them... You could do with some nice, leather gloves..." Suddenly, Scott picked up Owen's hand and examined it. His fingers were tense, he didn't seem to enjoy touching Owen - but he didn't immediately recoil, like Morcant did. And, to the fledgling's surprise, he didn't bring up his claws... Even though his own were more akin to Louis, straight and short. "And as for this..." He let go of the lumberjack's hand and patted his stomach. "You could pull it off, I guess... But a few tapeworms would also do the job."

"I'd rather not put any more worms in me, leeches were enough..." Owen shivered, before quickly adding "Wait, no, this is not what I mean!"

"It wasn't?" Scott squinted. "Then what do you want?"

"I... Sire, I- Is there something wrong with me, as a vampire? I mean... Look. Look at this!" The fledgling opened his claws, showing them to Scott. The fact that he didn't pull back was reassuring. He looked more... Amused? As if Owen's struggles were nothing but entertainment for him... "I need to know! Is this normal? Is there something wrong with me?"

The fledgling pulled up his upper lip, showing off his fangs and sharpened incisors. Scott took a step forward, examining the sight. Knowing what he did about Owen, and seeing all the signs, the conclusion seemed pretty obvious to him... To the point where he could barely believe that Louis had not yet told his beloved fledgling the truth. Although, truth be told, Scott couldn't recall whether he actually ever told him about this part of vampirism. But he was half a millenium old at this point, he should already know this, right?

"Oh, you mean these..." The elder vampire smirked. He already made up his mind about helping Owen, and the price he would pay for this knowledge. "There's nothing wrong with you, silly... Those are pretty normal for a revenant."

Owen let go of his upper lip, his face blank with confusion.

"A revav- what?"

"A revenant... Has Louis never told you about them? Some sire he is..." Scott snickered, before nonchalantly sitting down on the freshly chopped tree stump.

"No, he... He never told me about those... Revenants." Owen hesitated for a second before repeating the word. It was... Sharp, and withered. And made his mouth feel a bit funny. "What are they..."

"Well, it's you, silly!" Scott chuckled. He watched with a superior smirk as Owen sat down on the grass, in front of him. Maybe Louis had a point in how much he adored those huge, brown eyes... "It's a sub-species of vampires. They usually come to be, when someone gets turned, while they're already on death's door..."

"That makes sense!" Owen suddenly interrupted his superior "Louis said that... That before he turned me, he could smell death on me... That I didn't have much time left..." His eyes trailed down, at his scarred arms. "Wait, so that doesn't mean there's something wrong with me? There are... There are other people like me?"

"Sure... Though, to be honest, revenants are pretty rare..." Scott leaned back a bit, avoiding eye contact. "I've been around for centuries, and the amount of revenants I've met.. I could count them on both my hands. Including you."

"Wow..." Owen shivered. Something in the back of his head, an alarm bell rang - what if Scott was lying? The fledgling had no real way of verifying what he said. But it did make a lot of sense... And explained why he felt so alienated, even among his fellow vampires. "So, uh... What's the difference...?"

"Well, you already picked up on some of them..." Scott grabbed him by the wrist, examining his claws. "Ouch, these would hurt... And your teeth, perfect for ripping prey apart... You turned out quite well, actually..." The vampire snickered. "You would be much better at hunting than Louis..."

"Well, I'm yet to find out..." The revenant chuckled nervously, a bit taken aback by just how freely Scott grabbed him and moved him about.

"He hasn't taught you how to hunt yet...?" Scott squinted. "Woah, and he dares to call me a bad sire, tsk..."

An angry hiss slipped Owen at the berating comment towards his sire. For a second, he tensed and his face turned apologetic - he couldn't risk Scott getting upset, and leaving him without more answers... But his elder just started laughing.

"That's more like it! Woah, you really are a queer little thing..."

"A what now?" Owen scrunched his nose, once Scott grabbed him by the chin and pulled him closer.

"Looking like a revenant, but acting like a proper vampire... Hah..." Scott smirked, examining Owen's face closely. "You know, revenants usually live in the wild, and only come to towns when they need to steal some livestock..."

"Is this why I feel like I need to be outside as much as possible...?" The fledgling asked quietly.

"Probably! But since Louis is trying to raise you like an actual vampire..." The elder smirked, then let go of Owen's cheeks. "I wonder how long he would be able to hide that... What would he say once you started going invisible?"

"I can go invisible?" Owen gasped.

"Apparently! Well, you might not be able to hypnotize people like a proper vampire, but it seems like a fair trade-off..."

"Hold on," the vampire froze in place, once the realization dawned upon him. "Hypnotize...?"

"Oh, right? Has Louis not told you? Or... Oh." Scott grinned. Finally, the hook was ready. Now, he just needed to wait for the bait. "I guess it makes sense... If you knew, you might've realized what he's done to you..."

"Wait, wait, pause, hold on," Owen shook his head. "Are you suggesting that Louis hypnotized me?"

Scott just shrugged nonchalantly.

"I don't know! Maybe he did? Maybe he didn't? That's the thing with vampires... You can never fully trust them," he added with a cheeky grin.

Owen's eyes dashed down again. No, it couldn't be the truth... Not Louis, he would never- He would never do anything to hurt Owen, right? He wouldn't just hypnotize his partner without telling him, would he? His intentions were true, he just wanted to protect Owen. And he would always let him... But was it on his own accord? Or was it because Louis made him...?

"No, he wouldn't do that," Owen argued back, but his words lacked conviction. "Right...?"

Scott didn't answer - his smile just deepened. He didn't even need to do anything... Owen would spiral just fine without his help.

"No, he's not- He's not like that! He would never hurt me! He would... He would tell me, right...? He loves me... He does..." Owen shivered. "He just wants to protect me..."

"Well, a revenant's instincts can be ruthless..." Scott hummed, nudging the metaphorical hook closer to Owen.

"My... Instincts...?" The fledgling looked down at his claws. Was that what was happening to him? His mood swings, his need to be alone outside, his anger and hatred towards most humans - were they just his instincts? Was that a part of him, then? Or was it something he had no influence over? Did Louis know about them? And if so, did he try to protect Owen from... Himself...? "How do I know whether he did...?"

"Well..." Scott straightened his back, then leaned forward a little. "You may not like the idea, but... If I was to try to hypnotize you, and turns out I'm unable, that would mean there's someone else controlling you... And a sire takes priority, whether I like it or not..."

The fledgling pulled back a little. That was a horrible idea, wasn't it? Scott was above him in so many ways, in terms of experience and power... And only that proposition made Owen pause and think about it again. Could Louis really hypnotize him? Well, if Scott had this ability, there was nothing that said Louis wouldn't have it... But he couldn't be sure about the true logistics of this. And it left him wide open to his lover's sire doing something to him, something he would never want. He would much rather risk the possibility of his partner controlling him out of love, than whatever Scott wanted to do to him. Finally, the revenant got up and shook his head.

"No, thank you," he finally replied. "I'm fine like this."

"Oh are you?" Scott squinted.

"Yes, I... I'm good. Thank you for telling me all this... If it's even true, to begin with..."

The elder vampire chuckled.

"You doubt my expertise, silly? That's fun..." He giggled, before getting up and pulling on Owen's cheek in an infantilizing manner. "Fine, have it your way... You may not believe me now. But once you mature enough to handle the truth... You know where to find me."

The elder vampire let go of Owen and turned in the direction of the forest. The fledgling just stood there for a moment, his back turned to his elder, as he tried to make sense of his. Was Scott honest the whole time? Or was this whole encounter just one big game, aiming to get Owen hurt? Something in between? If so, why would he switch midway? Did he have some sort of ulterior motive in all of this?

"Sire...?"

But as Owen turned around, Scott was already gone. The lumberjack sighed, before picking up his axe and turning back towards Oakhurst.

---

When Louis returned home from work, Owen was back in his usual spot on their couch. Immediately, the mayor slumped next to his partner, his hand landing on his lover's back. Soft, quiet purring escaped his fledgling, but other than that, he didn't react to Louis' return.

"Sweetie? You okay?" The mayor asked.

"Yeah..." He sighed. "Louis...? You love me, right...?"

"Of course, dearest... Why would you doubt that?"

"And if there was something wrong with me, and you knew what it was... You'd tell me, right...?"

"Oh, honey..." Louis sighed and laid down right next to his lover. He gently grabbed his wrist, examining it for any signs of further self-inflicted harm. "There's nothing wrong with you, you're perfect just how you are... But, if you're so worried, I... I'll talk to Morcant. Maybe people at the organization could figure out why you feel like this... But I love you just as you are, okay?"

Owen took a deep breath, then hid his face in Louis' chest. He had to be correct... Louis would never hurt him. He loved him, he'd do anything to help him. Maybe he just didn't know about revenants...? That didn't matter, either way. What did was that he loved his partner, and would do anything it took to keep him happy.

Even if at this point, his head was filled with way too many doubts. His encounter with Scott answered so many of his questions... But also created so many new ones that Owen didn't know how he was going to deal with.

Chapter 33: A story on belonging

Summary:

Louis tells Owen a story.

Notes:

Another chapter that I was waiting for..... Enjoy :3

His conversation with Scott Goldsmith left Owen in a flurry of emotions. He felt equal parts relieved, concerned, confused and even more alienated than earlier. No matter where he went and what he was doing, his thoughts were constantly returning to what he heard from the vampire that evening. He couldn't help but spend his time sitting by the window, looking down at people passing through the streets of Oakhurst and wishing for something impossible. He never belonged among all these people as a human, and even now, as a vampire, he didn't fit in... His condition was so unusual, it had a whole other name. And Louis seemed either unaware of that, or in deep denial of what was going on with his partner... Of course, Owen never told him about his conversation with his sire. More or less, he knew how his partner would react. But the longer he thought about it, what Scott said about his condition made sense... Maybe he did want to help Owen? Even the worst people were capable of good every now and then, right?

That afternoon, the revenant was once again glued to the window, looking at people rushing under the walls of his house. Groups of men, women and children, all very similar to one another, living in a society that accepted them... Owen glanced down at his claws, then pulled them through his long, curly hair. All this time, he thought that getting cured of his illness would cause him to finally belong... But that wasn't the case. Something was still wrong with him. He still didn't fit in with everyone else. This ache in his chest persisted, whispering in his ear that he was different - and in a way that he couldn't just simply heal. Maybe it was just his destiny, to always feel this estranged from any group he tried to belong with? And if so, didn't his immortality make things worse? Was he now doomed to struggle with this ache forever, unable to ever quell it, unable to belong even in a thousand years?

"There you are!" Owen flinched and let out a quiet hiss once someone's cold hands landed on his shoulders. Immediately, he calmed down and curled up on his chair, avoiding eye contact. "Sorry, baby, I didn't mean to scare you... Did something happen...?"

"Oh, Lou, I was just... No, it's nothing," Owen whispered, putting his elbows on the windowsill and hiding his face in his hands. 

"Sweetie..." Louis crouched next to the chair, gently sliding his hand along Owen's arm. "What's wrong? You know you can tell me anything, right?"

"I just... I..." Owen opened his mouth to answer, but paused when tears began suffocating him. He just shook his head and turned away from his partner. No, he wouldn't get it... He was the very opposite to Owen. Belonging both among humans as their beloved mayor, and among vampires as a five hundred years old sire of seven. It was so awfully unfair to Owen... But who was he to get envious of his beloved partner? "How was your day?"

Louis sighed. It was going to take a while to get Owen to open up... Luckily, he had some experience with doing just that.

"Well, it was... Long, and tiring..." The elder vampire admitted, before getting up once more and pulling his partner into a tight hug. "And you know what I'd love to do now? Lay down and cuddle with my beloved, beautiful boyfriend..."

Owen shivered at that word. He didn't even know why he did it. All of a sudden, it just sounded so... Strange. Once he made sure he wiped all his tears off his face, he turned to Louis again.

"We can... We can do that, if you want to..."

"Well, do you...?"

Without another word, Owen got up from his chair and took Louis' hands, which he gently kissed. The mayor smiled at the gesture. No matter how sad or upset Owen was, his softness and consideration for his partner never faded. How could this kind, sweet and lovely man ever end up at the very margin of society, abandoned by everyone...?

In just a few minutes, the two of them ended up in bed, sharing some lovely, tender cuddles. The whole time, Owen seemed strangely absent. He responded to Louis' touch by purring, but other than that, he appeared strangely unresponsive. Fearing that he might be overstepping, Louis put his hands on his lover' cheeks, making eye contact with him for a moment.

"Owen, what's wrong? Please, tell me... I'm worried..."

"I just..." The revenant sighed, nuzzling against Louis' loving hands. "I... I don't think you would get it."

"I can try..."

"Can you? I mean, look at you... You belong both with the humans, and with the vampires," he muttered. Even though he couldn't tell Louis everything, without betraying how he learned about the very concept of revenants, he could try to dance around the topic and maybe get some reassurance. "You're Oakhurst's beloved mayor, and you fit right in with the vampires... And I... I'm not quite human, and... Not quite vampire, I think..." The fledgling slumped and laid down on his partner's chest. His comfortable, warm weight proved very comforting when pressuring Louis down on the bed. "Maybe I'm just... Broken...?"

"Do you think you'd fit in better, if you were a human again...?" The vampire asked carefully.

"No, I... I don't think so. I don't think I could ever fit in, I just... I can feel that I'm different. But not in a good way." Owen sighed and looked at Louis with the biggest, saddest, most lost eyes. "I'm sorry, I just... I know it's not your problem, but-"

"Sweetheart..." Louis pulled him into a tight hug. What Owen said... It eerily reminded him of all the things he felt throughout his human life, and the very beginning of his vampirism. As if he was looking in the miserable, confused eyes of his old self... "Can I tell you a story, to cheer you up...?"

"I... Sure...?"

Louis smiled gently.

"Thank you... And can I brush your hair, while we're at it? It's due for washing anyway..."

The fledgling nodded and sat cross-legged on the bed, with his back to Louis. Once the mayor took out a brush out of his nightstand drawer, he began gently brushing his partner's long, luscious hair. It was so beautiful, healthy and strong... He couldn't help but envy Owen's locks a little. Sometimes he wished his hair was curly too, even though he knew how hard it'd be to maintain... At least, he could make up for his lack by appreciating his partner's beauty.

"What story did you want to tell me?" Owen asked quietly.

"Well, it's an old story, but..."

"How old?"

"About... Five hundred years old..."

Owen twitched at that. Was that going to be a story from Louis' life...? Finally, maybe he would learn something more about his lover's upbringing... He straightened his back a little, even if he would inevitably slouch again in a few moments.

Then, Louis began talking.

"There once was... A young, beautiful girl." His voice was soft, gentle, but also tinted with sadness and a sense of longing. "She lived in a small village, she helped her parents with their farm... And she was the envy of every boy around. Each of them wanted her for himself, to touch her, kiss her, take her as his wife..."

"That sounds pretty nice..." Owen hummed quietly. "To be wanted by so many people, I mean... Did that girl have a name?"

Louis hesitated for a second, before continuing.

"She does. But no one cared about her name. They called her by another name they made up for her... And she didn't try to correct them. It was safer to hide behind the name they put on her, then trying to convince them that what they saw wasn't really what she was..." The mayor let out a quiet sigh. "Everyone only ever commented about how fair, kind and beautiful the girl was... They barely cared about anything else. No one asked who she wanted to be, what she liked doing..."

"Who did she want to be...?" Owen pulled his knees close to his chest. He was actually getting quite invested, even though he wasn't sure where this story was going.

"Well... When she was very little, some family members asked her just that... And she answered, in her childish naivety: 'When I grow up, I wanna be a boy!'. Her family hung that ‘joke’ over her head for years..."

Louis shivered at the memory. No, it was too late to go back now... He already started talking. He had to finish, to see it through. Owen wouldn't freak out, right...? The mayor didn't see his reaction to that statement, but if he didn't straight up start laughing... Maybe it will go well after all...?

"The girl never told anyone, but... Her dresses made her skin crawl. Her long hair was suffocating her. While her mother taught her how to clean the house, sew and cook, she wanted to work out in the field, read and go out hunting... But everyone told her 'It's not a job for girls like you!'. So, she didn't do any of these things... And as she grew up, her village saw her as more and more beautiful... Which made her feel worse and worse with herself."

Owen shivered at that.

"And what happened then...?"

"When she grew up, tragedy struck..." Louis paused for a second, trying to keep his voice from trembling. "She was to get married... Her parents found her a suitable husband. A merchant, and a kind man... But a man who, just like everyone, didn't see her for who she was. Who used the name that was forced upon her... And even if the girl did like him, or even loved him, she didn't in a way in which a girl loves a boy... More like, the way in which a boy loves another boy."

The fledgling wanted to ask something, but remained silent. He tried to make sense of this story, but it was difficult... What was Louis trying to tell him? Clearly, the girl didn't belong, just like Owen... But what was that supposed to mean, then...?

"And what did she do...?"

"The girl stayed silent for as long as she could... She swallowed her pride, and all her tears..." Louis whispered, his touch on Owen's hair softening even further. "She told herself that it's okay, that she was going to be fine, that she would be a good wife and mother to this man's children... Even if her childhood dream was never to become reality."

"That's... That's awful..." Owen shivered. Was that what Louis was trying to tell him...? To just suck it up and get on with his life...? No, no, he wouldn't...

"It was. So, the girl did the only thing she could... The day of the wedding, she..." The mayor paused once more and tensed, as if bracing himself for impact. "She ran away from home, and straight into the woods. Never to be seen again by her family."

Owen flinched at the sudden twist.

"Do you know what happened to her...?"

"I do..." Louis smiled gently. He put a single kiss on the top of Owen's head, before continuing. "The girl ran, and ran, and ran... Her wedding dress got caught on bushes and branches, before she took one wrong step, and fell down a hill... She was injured, but she was willing to fight to survive and find a place to get better, and to make her dream come true... And as she dragged herself through the forest, she came upon a bridge. At the end of that bridge, there was an island... And atop that island, stood a castle.

The fledgling immediately straightened his back, and turned his head a little. 

"What happened then...?"

"The girl knocked on the door, but passed out before anyone could open... But then, she woke up." Louis paused once more. Clearly, telling this story took a lot out of him. "She could tell she was different... She no longer felt alive. But she also wasn't dead. When she tried to look in the mirror, her reflection was gone! But, surprisingly, she didn't mind that at all..."

Owen gasped.

"She became a vampire!"

"Exactly..." Louis chuckled. Owen sounded so cute when he was intrigued... Like a little kid, that came to some sort of very important conclusion all on his own. "While in that castle, she met a man... The lord of this land, who turned out to be a vampire himself. He made her into this... So, the girl asked him: 'If you made me into this... Could you help me change, so that I finally feel like me...?'. And the man, in spite of himself, obliged..."

"And that man... Made her into a boy?"

Louis chuckled.

"He just helped the girl become who she was all the time... Finally, she- Well, he could use his true name... He could wear whatever he wanted, without feeling suffocated... He could love boys the way boys love other boys!"

Owen giggled at the confession. 

"That's wonderful... I'm so happy for him..." The fledgling whispered. Once he felt Louis lean against his back with a hug, he took his hands and kissed them carefully. "Louis... Was that... Person in the story... You...?"

The mayor immediately tensed. He did figure it out... He was hoping he could slowly explain the concept to his lover, but he already knew... Louis took a deep breath, bracing himself once more.

"Yes, that... That person was me. I wasn't always like this, I didn't always belong, but... I figured it out, with time and a little help. And, uh, I hope it doesn't make you think less of me, but-"

"Less of you?" Owen snickered. "You make it sound like this isn't the coolest thing ever!"

"It is...?"

"Yes! You felt bad being the way you are, and you found a way to fix it and feel good? That's... That's incredible..." Owen leaned back, into his lover's embrace. "I didn't know you can just... Be a boy, even if everyone tells you you're a girl... I just assumed that if everyone ever told me that I'm a guy, and they addressed me like that, that meant I was a guy..."

"You don't have to be! It's just a silly label... If there's any other label that fits you better, you can use it!" Louis smiled brightly, nuzzling against his lover. He understood it, and accepted it right away... He hasn't felt this relieved in ages. That was one of the last things he hesitated to tell Owen, fearing his reaction... But they were just fine. Something like that would not break them apart. Maybe, on the contrary, it could make them even stronger...

"Well, I don't think I'm a girl..." Owen chuckled. "I just... Never put much thought into this."

"There are more than just two options, sweeheart..."

Owen tilted his head back, to look at his partner.

"There are?"

"Yeah! You can be one or the other, or both, or neither, or something completely else..."

"Neither?" Owen scrunched his nose. "Hm, that... That sounds accurate..."

"It does?"

"I mean..." Owen shrugged. "It doesn't really matter to me... But I don't know, what if I'm wrong...?"

"It's fine, sweetie... You can take all the time in the world to figure it out. And if a label doesn't work on you, you can always change it..." Louis whispered, leaving a little peck on his nose. "What I mean, is... No matter what you are, there's nothing wrong with you just because you're different... You're you. And that's the best thing you can be."

Owen slumped into Louis' arms, and the mayor enveloped him with his comforting presence. He closed his eyes, basking in the safety his lover granted him. Maybe that could get his mind off things for some time... Maybe this feeling of not belonging anywhere would finally fade, at least somewhat...? If he was neither a guy or a girl, and he was neither fully human nor vampire, maybe it was... Just fine...?

---

The next day, when Louis returned from work, Owen immediately got up from the couch and hugged him without a word.

"You okay, honey?" The mayor asked with a soft smile, gently patting his back.

"Yes, I just... I was thinking... About that story of yours. And... Thank you, for telling me."

"You're welcome, sweetie..." Louis smiled and took his partner's hands, before gently kissing his knuckles. "Sorry I'm so late, I went to visit Legs... He's very curious about you..."

"Oh, is he?" The revenant chuckled.

"Yeah! He wants to meet you, and, well... I love talking about you..." The mayor smirked. As he took off his coat, he looked at his partner's face in the corner of his eye. There was something he wanted to test with him... "There's nothing better to me than talking about my partner, and how cute and sweet they are... And how much I love them..."

Owen scrunched his nose.

"They?" He asked, more so confused than upset. "Hey, I know I got a bit big, but come on, I'm not plural yet-"

"Oh, honey..." Louis barely held back laughter. "I'm sorry, I just... I thought that maybe, you'd like it if I referred to you like that... Some people prefer to be called something else than he or she. But if I upset you, I apologize..."

"You... Oh!" Owen raised his eyebrows. "I get it! Well, I... Hm." He looked down at his hands, deep in thought. "I don't... Hate it... I need to think about it. Okay?"

"Of course, sweetheart..." Louis smiled, before giving his partner a gentle kiss. "Take all the time you need..."

Chapter 34: How to hide from the world

Summary:

Louis comforts Owen through his doubts and insecurities.

Notes:

Funfact - with this chapter, I officially hit the word count of 1 milion words published! Kinda crazy considering I've only been publishing on ao3 for just over 13 months lmao

As the weather was getting warmer outside, and winter was swept to the side by the gentle, sunny spring, Louis began craving spending time with his partner more and more. Of course, the stronger sun and longer days were not ideal for vampires, but the romantic in him couldn't stop daydreaming about taking Owen on a nice picnic somewhere in the forest. Whenever he had some free time at work, he sat in his big, comfy chair and imagined them sitting on some meadow, shaded by a large tree, snacking and cuddling. Just because none of them were human, didn't mean they didn't deserve a nice, cute date together, right? Snuggling in the comfort of their home was good, but there was something so inviting and intimate about hiding somewhere away from Oakhurst, and just indulging in their closeness... Louis never really got a chance to experience that with any of his other fledglings, or any other person for that matter. If he managed to make it come true with Owen, it would make their bond even more special for him...

But as Louis returned home, ready to ask his lover out, he found him in bed, upset and clearly in distress.

"Owen? What's wrong, honey?" The mayor asked carefully when approaching his lover. The fledgling was tightly covered with a blanket, his face hidden in his pillow. He didn't even move when hearing his partner's voice, only when he got close and touched his shoulder. "What happened? Are you sick, or hurting...?"

"No..." Owen grumbled.

"Then what is it, honey? Maybe if we go outside and get some fresh air..."

"I don't wanna go anywhere," Owen curled up even more tightly. "I feel so... I'unno..."

"Sick?" Louis sat on the floor, next to the bed. His lover shook their head. "Hungry? Cold?" The elder vampire scrunched his nose at each denial.

"I don't know, like... Ugly...?" Owen chuckled bitterly, finally raising his head and slumping it back on the pillow. His face was a little wet... Was he crying just before Louis came...? "I know, I know, it's dumb, and it doesn't matter, but I just... I was thinking too much... About what you told me, and then some... And I... I just felt like... Such a disgusting monster..."

"Oh, sweetheart..."

Louis finally sat down on the bed, carefully resting his hand on Owen's shoulder. He then carefully slid it down, across his body. He couldn't understand how someone so cute, handsome, drop dead gorgeous could ever feel ugly... But at the same time, when he was a teen and a young adult, he was in a similar situation. If he could save his beloved some pain that he had to go through, he absolutely would. 

"You're really, really pretty, sweetie... But I understand if it's sometimes hard to get that through your head. I've been there." He gently curled Owen's hair around his finger, still looking at him with the same patient, loving expression. "What if we take this evening to remind you of just how gorgeous you are? I can prepare you a bath, or something..."

"No, thanks, I... I don't really feel like looking at my body right now," Owen whispered. 

The mayor kept stroking his hair for a moment later, before suddenly, he got an idea.

"What if you didn't have to...?"

"What do you mean?" Owen snickered.

"Give me a minute... I'll be right back."

The revenant looked at his partner leaving, before turning on his other side with a heavy sigh. If only Louis' story didn't make him start internalizing certain things... Of course, he didn't blame his partner for telling him his life story, and revealing such a vulnerable part of who he was. Owen couldn't help but adore him even more now, knowing just how hard the mayor fought to live his life comfortably. But the longer the fledgling thought about it all, the more he was doubting himself and who he actually was... He definitely wasn't a woman. But he also wasn't quite sure whether he was a man. Was he something in between? He just never put much thought into it, always too preoccupied with other matters... If someone was to ever ask him about who he was, they'd probably just shrug at the question. Did it matter? He was just... Just Owen. The same poor, dirty, sickly man that people in Oakhurst felt disgusted by. And thinking about it for too long made his whole body feel cold and foreign. Suddenly, he hated his hair, his fangs, his stomach, his chest, his scars, his claws... But at least he managed to keep calm and not do anything drastic before Louis came. He trusted that his partner would know exactly what to do.

Soon, Louis returned to the room. He sat back down on the bed, with a spark of mischief in his eyes. He was planning something, wasn't he?

"I have just what you need..." He said. "But first, I need you to bat."

"You need me to what? Oh, right..." Owen chuckled, before slowly sitting up on the bed. "Are you sure? My bat is kinda... I dunno..."

"Trust me, sweetie... I'll make sure you feel loved and cherished. And there's nothing better than avoiding the crushing weight of the world by turning into a bat..."

Reluctantly, the revenant took a deep breath, then shifted his form into that of a bat. Louis scooped him up in his cold, gentle hand, his smile immediately widening when coming face to face with Owen's cute snout.

"There is my favorite batty..." He whispered, before placing a little smooch on top of Owen's head. The bat whimpered, tapping their claws against their partner's palms. "I know, I know... Come on, you're gonna feel so much better, I promise..."

The mayor carried the cute little bat in his hands back into their living room. The windows were completely covered, to not let any sun in. In the middle of their table stood a small basin of water. It was clearly too small for a human, but just bit enough for a bat to be comfortably bathed... Owen tensed a little, unsure about the idea. He didn't have much experience with his bat form; what if he couldn't swim like this? But then again, Louis was close... And he would never in a million years let Owen get hurt.

"And in you go..." Louis carefully put the fledgling inside, and giggled at Owen's confused squeaking. The water was full of foam and warm, immediately soaking his brown fur. "See? It's not that bad, I gotchu..."

"It feels so huge when I'm like this..." The revenant muttered, gripping the edge of the basin tightly with his claws. The warmth was certainly nice, and with how tiny he was, it felt even stronger and more overwhelming... And his partner was right there to help, in case something went wrong. Finally, deciding to put all of his trust on Louis, he carefully let go of the edge and let himself sink a little deeper. The water was low enough that he could sit down comfortably without submerging his snout in water. "Okay, this is... Nice..."

"You like it?" Louis giggled, before stroking his partner's fur gently. "You're so adorable like this... So fluffy and chubby..."

"Yeah, yeah, I know, I noticed..." The bat squeaked, twisting his muzzle into something resembling a smile. "You're right, it does feel better like this... Not a guy, not a girl, just a little bat. That's so much easier."

"See? Just relax, I'll take care of everything..."

Louis pulled out a small brush, which he then pulled over Owen's spine. The bat let out a loud, excited squeal at the pleasurable feeling. Yes, that was good, they could definitely get used to it... They flattened their tiny, fluffy body in the basin, letting Louis brush them as much as possible. Purring erupted from their chest, so strong that it actually made them tremble a little. The mayor couldn't stop giggling, seeing just how happy his partner was.

"Comfy?"

"Mhm..." Owen muttered. "Can we do that every day...?"

"Sure, why not..." Louis chuckled. "You definitely won't grow even more complacent and lazy, will you?"

"I..." The bat went silent for a second.

"N- Not that it's a bad thing! You deserve to get a little lazy after years and years of fighting for survival..." Louis hummed. He began scratching Owen behind his ear, causing him to squeak even more and in a higher pitch. "Now, we have eternity together... You can spend a couple of centuries just lazing about, and recovering..."

"You sure...?"

"I am."

Owen sighed, before turning on his back to let his partner brush him further. The water hummed in his big, pointy ears. The whole room seems so gigantic when one is just a little fluffy bat... But at the same time, it felt as if his whole world now was this little basin, and his partner's loving face. Nothing else mattered. He could just be happy, pampered and spoiled by the one man that saved his life in more ways than one.

"Feeling a little better about yourself, sweetie...?" Louis asked, leaning down to place a little kiss on the bat's face.

"A little..." He muttered. "You don't mind that I've let myself go so much...?"

"Oh, honey... You can ask me this a hundred more times, but my answer won't change." The mayor whispered, before pulling Owen's wing open and gently stroking the soft, fleshy membrane. The bat's paws curled up at the wave of pleasure. "I don't... And even if I did, it doesn't matter. What does matter is that you're safe, healthy and comfy. And, to be completely honest..." Louis snickered. "I think you're adorable like this... With your nice, curly hair, and soft tummy, and your freckles and your huge eyes... You're the furthest thing from ugly, sweetie."

"Do you think..." Owen paused for a second, weighing their words. "If I never became sick... Would you think I would've found someone before you...?"

Louis averted eye contact at this question. He wasn't sure how to feel about it... He understood what Owen meant - if he was never to become sick, he'd probably be more popular among the people of Oakhurst, given just how sweet, witty and handsome he was... But even thinking about Owen being with anyone but him made him feel sick. Owen was his most beloved person in the world, and if it wasn't for him, Louis would struggle to find a reason to keep going... Sure, he had his responsibilities as the mayor of Oakhurst, and people of the town clearly loved him. But after what happened to his last fledgling and how he reacted, Louis gave himself one more chance. And if that chance was to pass him by without him even knowing... Something about it made him sick.

"Sorry, I... Forget I said anything," Owen whispered, before letting out a tiny sneeze. "The water's getting cold..."

"Oh, right... Maybe I can pull you out, and we can cuddle a little?"

"Sure..." The bat smiled, looking up at his lover with all the trust and adoration in the world.

Carefully, Louis pulled his lover out of the basin and straight on a soft towel. He then began gently wiping his soft fur, making sure to not accidentally hurt the bat. Owen let out even more happy squeaks, his whole body trembling from just how loud he was purring. The mayor couldn't get enough of him. His fur got thicker and even nicer for cuddling, and his big, brown eyes were the sweetest in the world... The mere thought of not having this man in his life made him feel cold and alone. But he was right there, and he wasn't going anywhere.

"Wanna go back to bed?" Louis asked, once he was finished wiping the last traces of water from his body.

"Yeah, I just... You won't mind if I fly there myself?"

"Not at all, sweetie! Wanna work on you flying?"

"I do."

Owen crawled out from under the towel and approached the edge of the table. He was a bit afraid that his recent laziness would make flying harder for him... After all, wild bats were probably not as chubby as he was. But the second they took off, they sighed with relief, feeling the familiar freedom of being able to travel in the air. He made a little circle around the living room, before dashing towards their bedroom. Upon landing on his pillow, a second, smaller bat flew next to him, and began licking him all over his neck and back.

"Lou, you just washed me..." He giggled.

"So what? I can wash you again..." The elder vampire squeaked. "Don't move..."

"No, I think I'd rather wash you instead."

The fledgling rolled over, knocking his sire off himself. Louis let out a surprised squeal, especially once the bigger bat pinned him to the pillow and began licking him all over his chest. It was a bit surprising that the mayor was a lot warmer as a bat, then as a human... Maybe it was due to him having so much fur. As a human, Louis wasn't very hairy - yet another thing that set Owen apart from other vampires.

"I was thinking..." Owen muttered, continuing to wash his partner's neck. "When you said that there are options... That you can be a guy, or a girl, or both, or neither... Can I just be... Neither? I don't really care about how others see me, as long as they don't see me as a monster, and actually care..."

"You totally can," Louis smiled. "And hey, if at any point you realize that you wanna try another label, just tell me, okay? 

"I will..." Owen muttered. Once he was done washing his partner, he slumped next to him, laying on top of his wing. "I need a nap..."

"Oh, you poor thing... Getting washed and pampered got you exhausted, didn't it?" Louis teased him playfully, pulling him by the ear.

"Yeah..."

Immediately, the mayor wrapped his wings around the bigger bat and snuggled against him. Owen's purring and even breathing calmed him down. Maybe they both just needed a nap... And once they wake up, maybe the world won't seem so big and scary anymore.

Chapter 35: The uncovered scars

Summary:

Owen gets to try something new, while also struggling with the old.

Notes:

A few things before we start:
- This thing is almost at 15k hits at the time of posting this. What
- I started a new longfic! The title is Guard dog duty and it's a canon divergent story focusing on Owen and Abolish. I want to experiment with it, so I hope you check it out and stay tuned for more :3
- Because of the above point, and also the fact I've been a little bit burned out on this fic, updates of NWWH might be coming a bit more slowly. I still love this ship to bits, but I've been writing it for a loooong time. I still have ideas, but I need some time to get my creative Lovebitten juices flowing again. Hope you don't mind!
- Also, I usually don't promote my Twitter, but I'm gonna make an exception this one time - Check it out!

"Louis?"

"Yes, sweetheart?"

"I have a question..."

The two vampire lovers were spending the afternoon together, joined in their favorite activities while softly embracing one another. Louis was focused on reading a new book, while Owen was taking his sweet time with his number puzzles. The room was filled with warm laziness, as the two laid leaned against one another. The fledgling turned to his partner and raised his head, before placing it on Louis' chest. His big, curious eyes were looking at the mayor with all the love in the world.

"I was wondering..." He hummed. "I hope you don't mind, but... When you told me how you were as a human, all those years ago... You said you didn't like having long hair. But you have long hair right now. Does it bother you? Or is it just... Okay now?"

Louis couldn't hide a smile that lit up his face. It's been a few days since he told Owen the truth, and since they asked this, they've been thinking about this... The mayor pulled his hand through his long, white hair, before answering:

"Well, I guess... I guess it is just okay now. Before, I was told to keep my hair long, because others thought that made me look 'pretty' and 'girly'... And now, I keep my hair long, because I like how I look with it."

"I like your hair too..." Owen purred. "It's nice..."

"Why thank you, dearest..." Louis tilted his head down to place a little kiss on the top of Owen's head. "For a time, I had this urge to look and act very masculine, to compensate for all the time I wasn't seen as who I am... But with time, I realized, I can just be... Me. Even if that means keeping my hair long."

"So it's not a bad thing that I keep my hair long?" Owen asked quietly. "I like it like that... It's pretty much the only thing that my illness didn't ruin. Somehow."

"You do have gorgeous hair..." Louis agreed, before putting his face against his lover's scalp. "If you ever wanna experiment with it, we can! But only as long as you enjoy it..."

The fledgling just purred in response, wrapping their arms around Louis' waist. He really was lucky to land such a gorgeous and loving partner... The story of his upbringing was surprising, unlike anything Owen has ever heard before. But if he was happy now, that's all that mattered, right?

"I'm trying to imagine how you were as a human..." They hummed, spreading all over Louis' chest to get fully comfortable. "It's just so hard to picture you... Like, in a dress, and all..."

Louis snickered at his sentiment.

"Believe it or not, I have some dresses left over from those times..."

"You do?" Owen tilted his head a little, to look at him again.

"Yeah! Mostly from when I just became a vampire..." The elder vampire snickered, getting a bit embarrassed at the memory. "Immediately, my sire wanted to make me into a proper vampire, and ordered me a bunch of dresses... It was awkward to then come to him and tell him something like 'Uhm, sire, I'd actually rather wear a suit or something...'. But he was... Just fine with it! He got his best tailors, and they put together some lovely clothes for me, some of which I still wear to this day..."

"Can I see these dresses?" Owen asked, before quickly adding "I- I'm just curious, is all..."

"Mhm, yeah... No problem." Louis grinned, then slowly got up from his bed.

The dresses he kept were stuffed in his old suitcase, at the very bottom of his wardrobe. It didn't take him too long to find it, drag it over to the bed and open it. Dust picked up into the air, making Owen sneeze.

"Bless you!" The mayor snickered "You sneeze like a kitten..."

The revenant's face turned fully red.

"Don't ever say that again."

"Oh, sweetheart..." Louis giggled, then finally opened the suitcase. Inside, Owen immediately spotted a few simple, but well sewn dresses in different shades of red, black and white. They smelled quite old, but other than that, they looked unbothered by the centuries that passed. Right away, the mayor picked up one of them and put it up to himself. It went just a little above his knees, and had a gorgeous, crimson color with delicate embroidery all over. "Yeah, this brings back memories... I really liked this one..."

"It's gorgeous..." Owen gasped quietly, his ears perking up with excitement.

"You wanna try it on?" Louis asked, his smile only widening when Owen immediately got a little embarrassed about the idea. "Come on, it's gonna be fun! I bet you're gonna look stunning..."

"I don't know, I- I don't- I've never- Could I...? No, no, I shouldn't, I- I don't think it's gonna fit..." Owen was clearly split on the idea, but it did sound quite appealing. He's been experimenting a lot in the past months, trying to find a lifestyle for himself that was comfortable... Maybe putting on a dress once was worth it, for science? But then again, there's no way he was going to look good, was there? All of his scars would be visible, especially on his arms, where they were the worst... But finally, his curiosity got the better of him. "You're not gonna judge...?"

"Never, sweetheart..." Louis smiled. "If you don't want me to comment, I won't. But I'm sure you're gonna look great. You want me to help you put it on?"

"Yes, please..."

After Owen took off their shirt and pants, Louis helped them put on the dress. It was clearly longer on the fledgling, reaching down to his calves - but the sleeveless fit left his arms exposed. The mayor tightened the corset ever so slightly, careful as to not make his beloved man uncomfortable - then took a step back to appreciate the sight. The dark crimson look gorgeous when put together with Owen's tanned skin. Black lace and embroidered roses put everything together, giving the revenant a pretty, slightly regal look. And it fit just fine, aside from being a bit longer than intended... Louis' fangs popped open with excitement.

"Woah..." He gasped. "You look... Beautiful..."

"I do...?" Owen pulled on the midsection of the dress. "I don't know... I mean, I like it! It's very... Flowy."

"Wanna try spinning around in it?"

"Sp- Spinning?" The revenant raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"

"Just try it. You'll get what I mean."

Still feeling a bit sceptical, Owen decided to put his trust in Louis and did a little spin in the middle of the room. Immediately, his dress swirled all around him, increasing the pleasant, flowy feeling. The fledgling gasped in excitement.

"That was so cool! Wait- Why did I like it so much? It's literally just a piece of clothing, it's nothing special..." He muttered, quelling his excitement.

"Did it feel good?"

"Yes...?"

"Then enjoy it!"

Owen looked down at the dress. He didn't hate how he felt in it... It was comfy and smelled nice, and even the way it exposed their scars didn't bother them all that much... And spinning in it felt incredibly liberating. So, the fledgling did it again. And then again. And again. His laughter filled the room as he spun around in his pretty dress, feeling a strange, pleasant sense of freedom he never felt before.

"Enjoying yourself?" Louis giggled, watching as his partner spun around the room. "Oh, careful!" He quickly added when suddenly, Owen lost his balance and bumped straight into the wardrobe.

"Whoa!" The fledgling almost fell inside of the closet, before bursting out into laughter. "Sorry..."

"Are you alright, sweetheart?"

"I'm fine..." Owen sighed. "I'm not great with my balance..."

"I think you did just fine..." Louis got up from the bed, before supporting his partner in getting up. "And you look gorgeous in a dress... I can keep it around, if you wanna keep wearing it..."

"I can?" Owen whispered, before averting eye contact. "No, no, I couldn't..."

"Why not?"

"I just... Look at me," the fledgling sighed, reaching his arms out to Louis. "I would have to cover these up..."

"Why...?"

"Because no one wants to look at disgusting scars..." Owen muttered, sitting back down on the bed. His hand traveled to his wrist, to begin picking on his skin once more.

"Sweetheart... They're not disgusting, they're-"

"A part of me? I know, Lou, you've been saying that over and over, but..." The fledgling curled up, pulling his knees close to his chest. "That doesn't mean they aren't ugly. Most people aren't as good as you... Their first thought isn't going to be 'oh, this person was sick, but they survived it and is now thriving!' or such. They're gonna see me as a gross monster..."

Louis sat down next to him, carefully pulling his cold fingers against Owen's arms. They looked so much healthier than when they met - finally, he had some meat on him, his bones no longer poked out from under his skin. His old, gaping wounds healed over nicely, a stark contrast to how they were at the beginning of their relationship. But both of them knew they would never fade completely... His illness hurt him beyond repair. And no matter how much Louis supported and admired Owen, that part would never change. A constant reminder of all the years that he spent all alone, just waiting for death to finally claim him.

"I'm... So sorry about all of this, sweetheart..." Louis muttered, his fingers carefully pulling through each nook and cranny of his lover's uneven skin. "I wish I could help you, get rid of these, but... All I can really do is remind you that you're not alone, and that you're loved..."

"And it helps..." Owen slumped against Louis. "I promise... But it's not gonna... Fix things."

"I know, sweetheart. You need time to heal, and that's fine..." Louis whispered, before placing a kiss on the top of Owen's head. "Just remember, to me, you're absolutely stunning... There's so much in you to love, it makes me a little overwhelmed sometimes..."

"Really?" The revenant snickered.

"Yes! You're so easy to love, honey..." Louis' hands landed on Owen's waist and he pulled his partner closer. "And I'm so honored to love you, I swear..."

"Sap..." Owen rolled his eyes.

"And?" 

Louis put his hand on Owen's cheek, before gently guiding him into a loving kiss. The fledgling didn't fight back for even a moment, instead he got even closer and slumped into his boyfriend's loving embrace. Even if he was still feeling ugly and unlovable sometimes, Louis had this incredible power to just make everything so much better... And they could never be grateful enough for it.

"So? You wanna stay in this dress for now?"

"I do... It feels really nice..." Owen agreed, clearly still a bit embarrassed. "Can I try the other ones, too?"

"Of course!" Louis giggled. "I bet you're gonna look gorgeous! 

"Don't know whether they will all fit on me, though..." The fledgling snickered, looking down at himself. "When I think about how I was just before meeting you, and now... I was maybe half my current size..."

"And I wouldn't have it any other way," Louis grinned, leaning over his lover and giving him one more kiss. "You're breathtaking, dearest... Gorgeous, and pretty, and cute, and sweet..." He hummed, punctuating every adjective with a little kiss on Owen's face. Quickly, the fledgling started giggling and squirming, suddenly overwhelmed with all the love and attention his partner showered him with. "I could go on like this for hours..."

"I bet you would..." Owen smirked, before pulling his partner close. Eventually, Louis pushed him to the bed and continued to place kisses all over his body. Finally, he would get his beloved fledgling all to himself, in all of his damaged, beautiful glory.

Chapter 36: The one who brings help

Summary:

Louis needs outside influence to help Owen this time.

Notes:

Sorry about this little hiatus this fic was on, I was focused on more urgent matters for a while. Hope you enjoy it though!

The second Louis returned home that afternoon, he could tell something was wrong. Owen did not greet him like he usually did - he just laid there in bed, silently, curled up and facing the wall. He's been a bit more withdrawn in the past few days - something Louis first dismissed as him being in another low mood period. But now, seeing him so quiet and withdrawn, it worried him greatly.

"Sweetheart...?" 

"Lou..." Owen murmured, curling up even tighter. Only when getting closer, the mayor noticed that they were trembling, and sweaty. 

"Owen, what happened? Are you sick?" Louis whispered. Immediately, his head filled with worries. Did Owen get sick? Did they overeat again? Did they start taking garlic again? The symptoms were similar, and that made his skin crawl...

"No, it's... My hand hurts..."

"Oh, honey..." Louis sighed. Poor guy, probably hurt their hand while woodcarving or such... "Can I see?"

"Mmmm... I'd rather not... It's gonna pass..."

"Are you sure? You know, if you sprained your wrist or such, it might hurt for a while... Maybe I can help- Owen?" The elder vampire flinched, seeing how his partner turned, to lay on his injured hand. "Owen, please, let me see..."

Louis reached over towards his fledgling, who didn't fight back against having his arm pulled from under himself. His wrist was wrapped up in a bandage, the same one he put on Owen to prevent them from picking on their skin. Now, however, Louis saw traces of blood on the fabric, and the smell... It wasn't a good sign. It smelled unhealthy, as if something was rotting... Carefully, the mayor unwrapped the bandage, and gasped in horror.

What was just a small scratch a few days ago, now became a large, gaping wound with tattered, greyish edges. Splotches of rotting blood and ichor marked his skin. The wound was clearly struggling to properly heal, especially if the fledgling kept picking on it. The mayor looked up at him, his eyes filled with worry.

"Sweetheart..." He whispered "What happened...?"

"I... It itched too much..." They muttered. "It hurt so much... But it's fine, right? It's gonna heal over..."

"I don't know if it's gonna, honey... It looks like it started rotting at the edges, here and here..."

"Oh." Owen shivered and looked down at his wound. "That's... That's not good, is it...?"

"No, it's not..." Louis shivered, pulling his fingers along the edges of the wound. "I don't like how it's looking, dear... It might rot further, or atrophy, or..." He turned away, towards the door. "I'll go get help for you. A professional needs to look at you."

"A... No, no no no, you're not getting a doctor here," Owen immediately tensed and pulled his hand closer to himself. 

"Owen, please, be reasonab-"

"I will not let any doctor touch me!" The revenant hissed, pulling away from Louis. "They're awful! And they never help!"

"Legundo will help you, Owen, he's a-"

"I don't care about your doctor friend! He's still a doctor, he's awful! He won't help!"

"Owen!" Louis raised his voice, something he despised doing in any situation. However, this one time, he had to put his foot down. Not only was his partner hurting, he was spiraling... The mayor needed to enforce some authority this one time. "I will go get Legundo. And you will stay here and wait until I'm back. Do you understand?"

"I..." Owen curled up in the corner of the bed, only shooting an angry glance in Louis' direction. "Whatever..."

"Thank you, dear." The mayor sighed, before getting up from the bed and heading towards the door.

Louis could only hope that Owen trusts him enough that he would listen. He couldn't really prevent them from leaving, but hopefully, they'd be reasonable enough not to do that... Their aversion to doctors was understandable, knowing their history with them. But Louis trusted Legs, he was a good man, he would definitely help... If only they had met before...

---

Just as Louis arrived, Legundo was preparing to close his office for the day. He smiled upon seeing his dear friend, but that quickly vanished when he noticed the mayor's worry, etched on his face.

"Louis? Did something happen?"

"Legs, I'm sorry to bother you, but... Owen is injured, I need you to take a look at him..."

"Let me just get my bag," the doctor said before opening the door to his office and walking back inside. "What happened?"

"He's really bad with skin picking... And he opened a particularly nasty wound that doesn't want to heal... I'm worried it's gonna get worse, or start rotting, or something..."

Legundo took a deep breath, putting together his medical bag.

"My knowledge about vampires is not the best, but I'll try my best..."

"Just, uh, a heads up... He's, um... Not a huge fan of doctors. Quite the opposite, actually. I'll try to keep him at bay, but he might be pretty... Mean."

The doctor couldn't hold back a chuckle at that. Louis sounded so worried about the possibility of Owen upsetting him... 

"Don't worry, Louis. I've been through a lot. I don't think there's anything Owen can say that will hurt me."

---

Louis was relieved to see that Owen stayed home, just like he asked them to. They were still sitting in bed, nervously picking on the edge of their wound. The second Louis returned home, accompanied by his doctor friend, the revenant let out a warning hiss. His eyes were glued to the stranger. He looked dangerous... Tall, broad, with many scars covering his arms and face. However, his green eyes appeared focused, and not afraid of the creature of the night staring at him antagonistically.

"There, there, sweetie..." Louis immediately joined him in bed, making Owen sit on his lap. He wrapped his cold arms around his partner's frame, holding him in place. Though, if push came to shove, Owen would probably outstrengthen him at this point... "I've gotchu. Legs is going to help, I promise."

"Hello, Owen..." The doctor slowly approached the bed. His body language seemed friendly, and his voice was nice, deep and calming... But Owen's past experiences resurfaced, making him tense and alert. "Louis told me a lot about you... I'm not going to hurt you. I just want to help."

"Oh do you?" Owen growled. "What are you gonna do? Cut me up? Give me some medicine that will make me more sick? And then want my money and gratitude, hm?"

"I want none of these things, Owen... Can I look at your injury? I promise I won't touch it for now."

"Yeah, right..."

"Owen..." Louis whispered sternly. "Legundo came to help you."

"And I didn't want him to come!"

"Owen, please..." Louis pulled him a little tighter and closer to himself. "Be reasonable..."

"Oh I am reasonable! I don't want him to do anything to me!"

Legs took a deep breath, before sitting on the edge of the bed.

"I imagine you had some bad experiences with doctors in the past," he said calmly. "And I don't blame you. Many people in my profession prioritize their own ego over the well-being of their patients. But I... Try to not do that. I just want to help. And if you want me to leave immediately after that, I will."

Owen growled quietly. So he won't leave until he 'helps'...

"Fine, just... Get it over with already," Owen grumbled, before reaching out his injured wrist.

Just as he promised, Legundo did not touch him. He just looked at the wound, as well as Owen's whole arm. It was still pretty narrow, despite the extra weight he finally put on while in Louis' care. Expansive scars covered his skin, and the injury seemed to be one of them, just reopened. It did, in fact, look infected... And as far as Legundo knew, with vampires being technically dead, it meant he had no immune system to fight off a possible fungal infection. If he didn't take care of it, he could easily lose a lot of mobility in his hand. And if Legs had a chance to prevent it, he was going to do anything it took to help.

"And? How is it, Legs?" Louis asked, his tone quiet and worried.

"I can try to clean off the wound and remove the infected spots... To prevent future spreading of the infection."

"Will it hurt?"

"I'll be as gentle as I can. But I cannot promise it will be completely pain-free."

"Then I don't want it," Owen growled. "I've had enough pain in my life. I don't need any more."

Legundo furrowed his eyebrows, before looking at Owen.

"If I don't remove the infected parts, it might spread... You might possibly lose mobility in your hand. And it might not stop there. It doesn't sound better than a few minutes of pain, does it?"

"Uh..." Owen shivered. Now that Legundo said it, maybe he had a point, as much as they hated to admit it... Losing their hand did not sound particularly pleasant. And as much as they hated the idea, they had to hold back their hatred for doctors just once.

"Please, Owen... I promise, it will all get better if you let Legs help..." Louis muttered. "And if you're nice, you'll get a snack, and cuddles..."

"Fine... But I'm doing this for you, Lou," the revenant muttered.

"That's fine," Legundo smiled, before putting a few items on the bed. A bottle with some thin, yellowish liquid, fresh bandages, gauze, a scalpel. Owen tensed, then pushed his face against Louis' chest, whimpering in fear.

"It's okay, honey, I gotchu..." The mayor whispered, pulling Owen close to himself. He then turned to Legundo, his eyes big and wet with sadness and trust. 

Legundo began by carefully washing the injured wrist with a disinfectant. He gently grabbed Owen's hand, making sure he wouldn't pull it away. The revenant wriggled and hissed, clearly upset about the pain he felt. At first, Legs thought of him as a little kid, afraid of getting hurt by a scary doctor... But he wasn't a little kid. He was a young adult, who already got badly hurt by the world. At least he was fortunate enough to find someone like Louis... The vampire saved so many people, and yet stayed so humble about it... As if he wasn't even aware of how much good he's done to the world. If he had enough mercy to be a friend to a bad, rotten man like Legundo, he truly was better than the best of humans... Definitely a lot better than a lot of people Legs met. And he would be forever grateful for that.

"Lou..." Owen whispered, snuggling closer to his partner. "It hurts..."

"I know, sweetheart..."

"You're really brave, Owen..." Legundo said with a gentle smile. "Like I said, Louis told me a lot about you... And I really wanted to meet you. I just hope we could've met in better circumstances..."

"Why...?" the revenant grumbled "Why would you want to meet me?"

"Because you sounded like a fascinating man... And if Louis is your friend, that told me right away that you're a good person."

Owen shivered.

"You're just- Ouch! You're just buttering me up, aren't you...?" The revenant whispered, shaken by pain when Legundo accidentally applied too much pressure to his injury.

"Oh, sorry... And no, I'm not. I know I said I'll leave right away if you want me to, but... Once you get better, I would love to meet with you two again. For tea, or something... But only if you're comfortable with that."

Owen looked up at Louis. The way he looked at the doctor, with so much softness and care... They almost felt jealous of him. He could see the appeal, truth be told... As much as he didn't want to trust Legs, his tone was calming, and he treated Owen with as much care and softness as he could. He also seemed so mature and intelligent... The lumberjack began feeling small, compared to him. Did Louis like him more, than he loved Owen...? Was the revenant immature in his eyes? Was he tired of him?

"Mmmm... Maybe..." Owen muttered. "If Louis likes you, maybe you're... Not awful..."

"I'll take it as a compliment," Legundo chuckled. "I am very fortunate to call Louis a friend... Even if often, I don't feel deserving of this title..."

"You certainly are, dear," Louis responded with a soft smile. Owen tightened his grip on his partner. "I'm very fond of both of you, and I'm glad to have you two in my life..."

"Why don't you turn him, then?" The revenant hissed quietly.

"Owen, don't-"

"I don't want to be turned," Legundo explained. He proceeded to remove diseased parts of Owen's skin, continuing to speak to hopefully distract him from the pain. "I don't deserve eternity. All I want is to help as many people as I can, and leave this world when my time comes. And that's it."

"That's depressing..." Owen grumbled.

"That's how I feel. I won't judge anyone who wants to take their chance at immortality... But it's not for me. I've done too much damage to be deserving of that."

"What damage have you done? You..." Owen paused for a second. "You aren't the... Worst doctor I've ever met."

"Thank you," Legundo chuckled. "But... I'd rather not talk about it. At least not right now. It's... A lot."

"Legs... It's okay, really, you more than enough made up for everything..." Louis argued, but the doctor just shook his head and picked up a roll of bandaid.

"I don't think so. But I'm happy you think so highly of me, Louis. Even if it's undeserved. And... Done."

"Huh?" Owen flinched, then pulled his hand closer to himself. Pain still permeated through his hand, but his wrist was now clean and wrapped with fresh bandages. The revenant sniffed the wound. It smelled of alcohol, because of the disinfectant. They turned to Legundo, but seeing him already begin to pack up his things, he quickly added "W-wait!"

"Yes, Owen?"

"You... You don't have to go. If you want to, that is. It's whatever to me."

"Thank you..." Legundo sighed with relief, before sitting down on the bed next to them. "You were very brave..."

"I wasn't."

"You were brave enough to ask for help-"

"I didn't. Louis came to get you."

The doctor snickered.

"Then you were brave enough to accept help. And that's a lot."

"Mhm, whatever..." Owen grumbled, cuddling closer to Louis.

"You did so well, sweetie..." Louis gently kissed his cheek, his hand gently stroking Owen's back. "You're my big brave sweetheart.."

"I'm not, I'm-" The revenant began talking, until suddenly he paused. His eyes opened wider, when Legundo's big, warm hand landed on his hair. At first, he wanted to pull away, a bit startled by the man's sudden touch... But at the same time, feeling two men touching him affectionately at once made him feel overwhelmed with comfort. He slumped against Louis, purring erupting from his chest. "That's... Mmm... Yeah..."

"You like it?" Louis giggled.

"Mhm..." Owen whispered. He already loved it when his partner kissed him and touched him... But he also didn't mind Legundo stroking his hair gently. His hands were so gentle and hot... The fledgling really did feel like a spoiled cat at that moment. "Keep at it..."

"If you say so..." Legundo couldn't hold back a smile. He didn't expect Owen to go from antagonistic to cute so quickly... Not that he minded the change.

---

"So? What do you think...?" Louis asked, the second he let Legundo outside.

"About... Him?"

"Yes..."

"He's good, Louis. Just... I can tell he's been through a lot," Legs admitted. "But if I gained any of his trust... I'm honored."

"He's... He is a wonderful little guy..." The elder vampire smiled fondly, his stare glued to the horizon. "He's... Not perfect, I admit. He's got a... Big personality, and he can be so incredibly stubborn... But he's sweet, and kind, and I love him a lot..."

"Good. Cherish that bond. You two clearly make a great couple."

"Do you think you could be..." Louis paused, a bit lost for words. "You want to be a... Part of... That...?"

Legundo looked at him. It took him a second to realize what the mayor meant.

"I... I'll think about it. But if I'm deserving of your trust, and Owen's as well, then... Maybe..."

"Thank you, Legs." Louis pulled his dear friend into a tight hug. A moment later, he pulled away and headed back towards the door. "Come by anytime, okay?"

"Yes, I will... See you, Lou."

Notes:

And Legundo is now officially a part of the main cast of this fic! Who cheered

Notes:

I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter! If you have any ideas for scenes with these two being cute and domestic, let me know, I might actually write them :3

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Series this work belongs to:

• Part 9 of Excel is completely normal about Vampires SMP